[1] Christina Katharina was the only daughter and heiress of Count Paul of Salm-Brandenbourg (1548–1595), head of his branch of the House of Salm (1535–1595) by his wife, Marie Le Veneur de Tillières (1553–1600),[2] of whom he was a second cousin-once-removed, the couple sharing descent from Philippe Lhuillier, seigneur de Manicamp, governor of the Bastille.

She also inherited the land of her childless uncle Count Johann VIII of Salm-Badenweiler (d. 1600), Governor of Nancy, France.

Although the Salms had been sovereign Imperial counts since 1475, neither they nor the Le Veneurs were reckoned among the major magnates of either the Holy Roman Empire or of France in the 16th century.

However, when Francis married Christina, he was only the third son of Duke Charles III, destined for the countship of Vaudémont as appanage rather than for the sovereignty of Lorraine.

Indeed, to prevent the duchy from leaving the patriline (and to legitimate its usurpation), Francis and Christina's sons would eventually be wed to the two daughters of his elder brother, Duke Henry II of Lorraine.