Francis, Count of Vendôme

Francis was the son of John VIII de Bourbon, Count of Vendôme and Isabelle de Beauvau, the daughter of Louis de Beauvau, Marshal of Provence.^[1] As a legitimate member of the Capetian dynasty, he ranked in France as a prince du sang. Francis was seven, when his father died and he succeeded as count of Vendôme. During his minority, his estates were administered by his brother in law, Louis of Joyeuse.

In 1487, Francis married Marie of Luxembourg, the elder daughter and principal heiress of Peter II of Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol and Soissons, and Margaret of Savoy.^[2][3] She brought great estates as her dowry, including the countships of Saint-Pol and SoissonsinPicardy, as well as the Château de Condé.

Francis and Marie had:

• Charles de Bourbon (1489–1537), who later became Duke of Vendôme.^[3]
• Jacques de Bourbon (1490–1491), died young
• Francis de Bourbon (1491–1545), Count of Saint Pol and Chaumont,^[1] and Duke of Estouteville
• Louis de Bourbon (1493–1557), Archbishop of Sens^[1]
• Antoinette de Bourbon (1493–1583), married Claude, Duke of Guise^[4]
• Louise de Bourbon (1495–1575), Abbess of Fontevraud

By Isabeau de Grigny, Francis had an illegitimate son:

• Jacques de Bourbon

Francis de Bourbon died at the age of 25 in Vercelli, Italy, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles IV de Bourbon. His widow Marie administered the family's estates during Charles' minority.

• Barbier, Jean Paul (2002). Ma bibliothèque Poétique (in French). Librairie Droz S.A.
• Busby, Keith; Freeman, M.J.; Houppermans, Sjef; Pelckmans, Paul, eds. (1993). Les Manuscrits de Chrétien de Troyes. Vol. 2. Rodopi.
• Potter, David (1993). War and Government in the French Provinces, Picardy 1470-1560. Cambridge University Press.