Bourbon-Vendôme
Encyclopedia
The Bourbon-Vendôme family was an illegitimate branch of the senior line of the House of Bourbon
, being thus part of the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by César de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme
. He was the illegitimate son of King Henry IV of France
and his mistress, Gabrielle d'Estrées
.
in 1595, and was created the first duc de Vendôme by his father, the king, in 1598. The title of duc de Vendôme was chosen because it had previously been used by the father of Henry IV of France
. The title was used by the Bourbon-Vendôme family for over a century after its start.
They had three children:
The second duc was Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme
. He held the title from 1665–1669. He also had three children with his wife, Laura Mancini
, niece of Cardinal Mazarin:
The third holder of the title was Louis Joseph de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme. He married Marie Anne de Condé (1678–1718), a daughter of Henry III Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé
and granddaughter of Le Grand Condé. They had no children. As he had no heirs at the time of his death, his titles were inherited by his younger brother, Philippe de Vendôme
. Philippe was the fourth and last duc de Vendôme. The Grand Prior for France in the Order of Malta, he was a French army commander. He held the title from 1712 to 1727.
On his death, the title reverted back to the Crown. After the extinction of the Bourbon-Vendôme, the title was used as a courtesy title
by the Comte de Provence
, the younger brother of Louis XVI.
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
, being thus part of the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by César de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme
César de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme
César de Bourbon, Légitimé de France , Duke of Vendôme, was the son of Henry IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. Sometimes simply known as César de Vendôme. Through his daughter, Élisabeth de Bourbon, César was a great-great-great-grandfather of Louis XV of France, merging thereafter...
. He was the illegitimate son of King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
and his mistress, Gabrielle d'Estrées
Gabrielle d'Estrées
Gabrielle d'Estrées, Duchess of Beaufort and Verneuil, Marchioness of Monceaux was a French mistress of King Henry IV of France, born at either the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in Touraine, or at the château de Cœuvres, in Picardy....
.
History
César was legitimisedLegitimation
Legitimation or legitimization is the act of providing legitimacy. Legitimation in the social sciences refers to the process whereby an act, process, or ideology becomes legitimate by its attachment to norms and values within in given society...
in 1595, and was created the first duc de Vendôme by his father, the king, in 1598. The title of duc de Vendôme was chosen because it had previously been used by the father of Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
. The title was used by the Bourbon-Vendôme family for over a century after its start.
The House of Bourbon-Vendôme
In total, there were three Bourbon ducs de Vendôme. The title passed directly from father to son for three generations:- César de Bourbon, duc de VendômeCésar de Bourbon, duc de VendômeCésar de Bourbon, Légitimé de France , Duke of Vendôme, was the son of Henry IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. Sometimes simply known as César de Vendôme. Through his daughter, Élisabeth de Bourbon, César was a great-great-great-grandfather of Louis XV of France, merging thereafter...
- the first holder of the title. It was the same title that his paternal grandfather has used. Antoine of NavarreAntoine of NavarreAntoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was head of the House of Bourbon from 1537 to 1562, and jure uxoris King of Navarre from 1555 to 1562.-Family:...
was the duc de Vendôme from 1537 to 1562. In 1608, César married Françoise de Lorraine, duchesse de Mercœur et de Penthièvre (1592–1669), daughter and heiress of Philippe Emmanuel, duc de Mercœur, who was a rival of his father, Henry IV.
They had three children:
- Louis II, duc de VendômeLouis II de Bourbon-VendômeLouis de Bourbon , was Duke of Mercœur and later the second Duke of Vendôme, and the grandson of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées...
(1612–1669), who was the next holder of the title. - Elisabeth, Mlle de VendômeElisabeth de Bourbon-VendômeÉlisabeth de Bourbon was a granddaughter of Henry IV, King of France and an ancestor of many European Royals. She is an ancestor of Prince Henri the Count of Paris, Orléanist pretender to the French throne, are among the male line descendants and heirs of Philippe...
(1614–1664), who married Charles Amadeus of Savoy, 6th Duke of Nemours. - François, duc de Beaufort (1616–1669).
The second duc was Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme
Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme
Louis de Bourbon , was Duke of Mercœur and later the second Duke of Vendôme, and the grandson of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées...
. He held the title from 1665–1669. He also had three children with his wife, Laura Mancini
Laura Mancini
Laura Mancini, duchess of Mercœur and Vendôme was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin. She was the eldest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of King Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes...
, niece of Cardinal Mazarin:
- Louis JosephLouis Joseph, duc de VendômeLouis Joseph de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was a French military commander during the War of the Grand Alliance and War of the Spanish Succession, Marshal of France.-Biography:...
(1654–1712), the third duc de Vendôme and Marshal of FranceMarshal of FranceThe Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
. - PhilippePhilippe de VendômePhilippe de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme the "Grand Prior" was the fourth Duke of Vendôme and Grand Prior for France in the Order of Malta, a French army commander and the younger brother of Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme....
(1655–1727), called le prieur de Vendôme - Jules César (1657–1660)
The third holder of the title was Louis Joseph de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme. He married Marie Anne de Condé (1678–1718), a daughter of Henry III Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Henry III Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Henri Jules de Bourbon, Prince of Condé was prince de Condé, from 1686 to his death. At the end of his life he suffered from clinical lycanthropy and was considered insane.-Biography:...
and granddaughter of Le Grand Condé. They had no children. As he had no heirs at the time of his death, his titles were inherited by his younger brother, Philippe de Vendôme
Philippe de Vendôme
Philippe de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme the "Grand Prior" was the fourth Duke of Vendôme and Grand Prior for France in the Order of Malta, a French army commander and the younger brother of Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme....
. Philippe was the fourth and last duc de Vendôme. The Grand Prior for France in the Order of Malta, he was a French army commander. He held the title from 1712 to 1727.
On his death, the title reverted back to the Crown. After the extinction of the Bourbon-Vendôme, the title was used as a courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
by the Comte de Provence
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
, the younger brother of Louis XVI.
Ancestry of the Bourbon-Vendôme's
Other Illegitimate Houses
- Bourbon-PenthièvreBourbon-PenthièvreThe House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
- extinct - Bourbon du MaineBourbon du MaineThe House of Bourbon-Maine was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, being thus part of the Capetian dynasty. It was founded in 1672 when Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine was legitimised by his father, King Louis XIV of France....
- extinct - Bourbon-BussetBourbon-BussetThe Bourbon-Busset family is an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, being thus agnatic descendants of the Capetian dynasty. Historically they have been regarded as non-dynastic since decisions rendered by Louis XI of France....
See also
- http://www.francebalade.com/vendome/bouvendom.htm - French site with further information on the family