Background
Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans. When his elder brother Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine, married the Archduchess Maria Theresa, daughter of Emperor Charles VI, Charles Alexander entered the Imperial service in 1737.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, he was one of the principal Austrian military commanders. He was most notable for his defeat by Frederick the Great at the Battle of Chotusitz in 1742 and the Battle of Hohenfriedberg in 1745. He was also defeated by Maurice de Saxe at the Battle of Rocoux in 1746.
On January 7, 1744, he married Maria Theresa's only sister, Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, thus making him doubly Maria Theresa's brother-in-law, and the pair were jointly made Governors of the Austrian Netherlands. His sister, Anne Charlotte, whom he was very close to, acted as de facto co sovereign.
Although Maria Anna died later that year, Charles himself continued as governor until his own death in 1780. He was very popular. He also became Grand Master of the Teutonic Order in 1761.
Read more about this topic: Prince Charles Alexander Of Lorraine
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