Theobald II, Duke of Lorraine

Who was Theobald II, Duke of Lorraine?

Theobald II was the duke of Lorraine from 1303 to his death. He was the son and successor of Frederick III and Margaret, daughter of King Theobald I of Navarre.

In 1298, he took part in the Battle of Göllheim, near Speyer, in which the king of Germany, Adolph, was killed fighting his rival, Albert of Habsburg. Theobald was on Albert' side, despite the history of support for the legitimate emperors in the history of his family.

In 1302, he was at war helping the king of France, Philip IV, married to his cousin Joan I of Navarre. He was at the Battle of the Golden Spurs at Kortrijk, where the Flemings defeated the French chivalry under Robert II of Artois. He was present also at the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle in 1304, where the French king personally led the army in a less decisive battle. He, along with John II, Duke of Brabant, and Amadeus V, Count of Savoy, was sent to negotiate peace with Flanders.

In 1305, he was at Lyon, at the crowning of Pope Clement V. When Clement imposed a tax, a tenth-part, on the clergy and charged the duke to collect it, Theobald successfully met the opposition of Renaud de Bar, bishop of Metz.