Frederick I, Duke of Lorraine
Frederick I (French: Ferry or Ferri) (c.1143 – 7 April 1206) was the duke of Lorraine from 1205 to his death. He was the second son of Matthias I and Judith, daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Swabia. He succeeded his brother, Simon II, who had already given him the county of Bitche in 1176 and had recognised him over the northern, germanophone half of Lorraine by the Treaty of Ribemont of 1179. Judith had wanted him to succeed to all their father's inheritance, but a three-year civil war only secured him Bitche and a half-portion.
Simon abdicated to a monastery in 1205, recognising Frederick's son Frederick as heir. Frederick inherited it all nevertheless, but died a year later and it went to his son by Ludmilla (1150 – 1223), daughter of Mieszko III the Old, duke of Greater Poland and high duke of all Poland, and Elisabeth, daughter of Prince Álmos. Their other children were:
- Frederick, his successor in Lorraine
- Thierry the Devil (le Diable), lord of Autigny
- Henry the Lombard, who built the castle of Bayon
- Philip (d.1243), lord of Gerbeviller
- Matthias (1170 – 1217), bishop of Toul
- Agatha (d.1242), abbess of Remiremont
- Judith, married Henry II, Count of Salm
- Hediwge (d.1228), married George, Count of Zweibrücken
- Cunigunda, married Walram III, Duke of Limburg
| Preceded by: Simon II |
Duke of Lorraine 1205-1206 |
Succeeded by: Frederick II |
