List of rulers of Lorraine
House of Lorraine

Portrait
Name
Start term
End term
Note
-
René II
24 July 1473
10 December 1508
grandson of René I and Isabella; also Duke of Bar
-
Antoine
10 December 1508
14 June 1544
-
-
Francis I
14 June 1544
12 June 1545
-
-
Charles III
12 June 1545
14 May 1608
-
-
Henry II
14 May 1608
31 July 1624
-
-
Nicole
31 July 1624
25 November 1625
she was the daughter of Henry II; the estates of Lorraine eventually decided that she was not eligible to reign, and gave the crown to her uncle, Francis II; her husband and first cousin, Charles IV, would reign thereafter
-
Francis II
25 November 1625
1 December 1625
he immediately abdicated in favour of his son, Charles IV; died 1632
-
Charles IV
1 December 1625
19 January 1634
abdicated in favour of his brother
-
Nicholas II
19 January 1634
1 April 1634
fled into exile and abdicated in favour of his older brother; the duchy remained under effective French control for the next 27 years
-
Charles IV
1 April 1634
18 September 1675
nominally restored as a result of his brother's abdication; Lorraine was occupied by France, and the Duke in exile, from 1634 to 1661 and again from 1670 until his death
-
Charles V Leopold
18 September 1675
18 April 1690
He was in exile and Lorraine was occupied by France throughout his nominal reign
-
Leopold
18 April 1690
27 March 1729
He was in exile and Lorraine was occupied by France until 30 October 1697, when it was returned to Léopold Joseph; it was again occupied by France from 1702 to 1714, although the duke remained in place
-
Francis III Stephen
27 March 1729
9 July 1737
traded Lorraine in exchange for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany; elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1745; died 1765, husband of Empress Maria Theresa

Question: How long was Charles IV the Duke of Lorraine and were there any interruptions during his term?
Answer: Charles IV was Duke of Lorraine until his death in 1675, with an interruption in 1634, when he abdicated in favor of his brother, Nicholas.