ST. URBAIN, Ferdinand de: Lorraine, ca. 1720, Bronze, 47 mm
Obv: Bust (r) FRANC. I. D. G. LOTHOR. BAR. GEL. DVX.
Rev: Bust (r) CHRISTINA. A. DANIA. LOTH. BAR. GEL. DVCISSA
Signed: SV
Ref: From the Series of the Dukes and Duchesses of Lorraine. Forrer V, p.310 # 47; Mirnik # 29;  Weiss BW771

François I, Duc de Lorraine, born in 1517, was the son of Antoine II, Duc de Lorraine and Renée de Bourbon-Montpensier. He married Christine Oldenburg (1521-1590), Princess of Denmark, daughter of Christian II Oldenburg, King of Denmark and Norway and Isabella Erzherzogin von Österreich, in 1541 at Brussels, Belgium. He died in 1545 at age 27.

François I succeeded to the title of Duc de Lorraine in 1544. He also gained the title of Duc de Bar. François I and Christine had three children, one of whom was Charles III, Duc de Lorraine.

Christina of Denmark (1522–1590), was firstly Duchess-consort of Milan and then Duchess-consort of Lorraine. She was claimant to the thrones of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. She was the younger surviving daughter of Christian II of Denmark and Isabella of Austria, sister of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Christina was born in Nyborg in central Denmark in 1522.

In 1538, German painter Hans Holbein arrived in Brussels to meet Christina. Holbein had been commissioned by Henry VIII of England to paint portraits of noble women who were considered suitable brides. Christina had been mentioned after the death of Jane Seymour in 1537. Upon Holbein's arrival, Christina sat for a portrait, wearing mourning clothes. The English ambassador was arranging for Henry VIII to see the Duchess's likeness in connection with plans to marry her. Christina, then only sixteen years old, made no secret of her opposition to marrying the English king, who by this time had a reputation around Europe for his mistreatment of his wives. She supposedly told the English ambassador that "If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England's disposal." Christina was also the grand-niece of Henry's first wife Catherine of Aragon through her mother.

After turning down Henry's proposal, in 1541 she married Francis, Duke of Bar. In an interesting twist of fate, this was the prince who had been betrothed to Anne of Cleves, who became the 4th wife of Henry VIII, after he was turned down by Christina. Francis succeeded his father as Duke of Lorraine in 1544 and died in 1545, leaving Christina as the regent of Lorraine. She died in 1590. (From wikipedia)

One of their three children was Charles III, Duke of Lorraine.

LINK to portrait of Christina of Denmark by Hans Holbein the Younger (from the peerage.com)