Background
Nicholas Francis was the youngest son of Duke Francis II of Lorraine and his wife, Christina of Salm.
Catholic priest aristocrat bishop of Toul
Nicholas Francis was the youngest son of Duke Francis II of Lorraine and his wife, Christina of Salm.
He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Pont-à-Mousson, 1622–1629.
He was therefore Duke during the invasion of Lorraine by the French in the Thirty Years War. Born on the feast of Saint Nicholas, he was named in his honour. As it appeared unlikely that he would succeed to the duchy, he was destined for the church.
He was made coadjutor bishop of Toul, in spite of his youth, in 1619 and succeeded to the see in 1624, but never actually received any sacred orders.
He returned to Nancy in June 1629. The thesis he prepared on the sacrament of penance was printed in Holland in 1627 with a dedication to Pope Urban VIII. He was created cardinal on 19 January 1626, but in pectore.
The appointment remained unproclaimed until 30 August 1627. He never received the red hat or a cardinal-deaconry.
On 8 March 1634, the pope declared him in nullo e sacris ordinis constitutum, depriving him of the cardinalate and the diocese of Toul.
In the consistory of 22 March 1634, the pope communicated the news to the cardinals. Immediately following Nicholas"s accession to the dukedom, the French invaded the duchy and forced the new duke to sign a treaty recognizing their right to occupy lieutenant With one brief exception, Charles would not, however, be able to return to his duchy until 1661.