CHARLES III  . or II . (1543-1608), called THE GREAT, duke of Lorraine, was a son of Duke Francis I . (d . 1545), and a descendant of Rene of Anjou . He was only an infant when he became duke, and was brought up at the court of Henry II. of France, marrying Henry's daughter Claude in 1559 . He took part in the wars of religion in France, and was a member of the League; but he was overshadowed by his kinsmen the Guises, although he was a possible candidate for the French crown in 1589 . The duke, who was an excellent ruler of Lorraine, died at Nancy on the 14th of May 16o8 . He had three sons: Henry (d . 1624) and Francis (d . 1632), who became in turn dukes of Lorraine, and Charles (d . 1607), bishop of Metz and Strassburg .