Francis or François de Bourbon (c. 1470 – 1495), Count of Vendôme, was a French prince du sang.
Contents
Life
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. As a legitimate member of the House of Bourbon-Vendome, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, which itself was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, he ranked in France as a prince du sang. Francis was seven when his father died, and he succeeded him as Count of Vendôme. During his minority, his estates were administered by his brother-in-law, Louis of Joyeuse.
Marriage
On 8 September 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. She brought great estates as her dowry, including the countships of Saint-Pol and Soissons in Picardy, as well as the Château de Condé.
Francis and Marie had:
Charles de Bourbon (1489–1537), who later became Duke of Vendôme.
Jacques de Bourbon (1490–1491), died young
François de Bourbon (1491–1545), Count of Saint Pol and Chaumont, and Duke of Estouteville
Louis de Bourbon (1493–1557), Archbishop of Sens
Antoinette de Bourbon (1493–1583), married Claude, Duke of Guise
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 de Bourbon. His widow Marie administered the family's estates during Charles' minority.