François de Bourbon, prince de Conti
Encyclopedia
François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti (19 August 1558 – 3 August 1614) was the third son of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé
, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye
(1536–1564). He was given the title of Marquis of Conti and between 1581 and 1597 was elevated to the rank of a prince.
Conti, who belonged to the older faith, appears to have taken no part in the French Wars of Religion
until 1587, when his distrust of Henry, 3rd Duke of Guise
caused him to declare against the League
and to support his cousin Henry of Navarre, afterwards King Henry IV of France
.
In 1589 after the murder of Henry III
he was one of the two princes of the blood
who signed the declaration recognizing Henry IV
as king, and continued to support Henry even though he himself was mentioned as a candidate for the throne upon the death of Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon
in 1590.
Conti's first wife was Jeanne de Coeme, heiress of Bonnétable
; she died in 1601. In 1605 he married Louise Marguerite of Lorraine (1588–1631), daughter of Duke Henry of Guise
and Catherine of Cleves
, who was desired by Henry IV. Conti died in 1614. The title of Prince de Conti lapsed following his death in 1614, as his only child, Marie, predeceased him in 1610. She was only three weeks old.
He had an illegitimate son, Nicolas de Conti (d. 1648), abbot of Gramont.
His widow followed the fortunes of Maria de' Medici, from whom she received many marks of favor, and was secretly married to François de Bassompierre
, who joined her in conspiring against Cardinal Richelieu. Upon the exposure of the plot the cardinal exiled her to her estate at Eu
, near Amiens
, where she died. The princess wrote Aventures de la cour de Perse, in which, under the veil of fictitious scenes and names, she tells the history of her own time.
Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye
Eléanor de Roucy de Roye
Eléanor de Roucy de Roye, princesse de Condé was the eldest daughter and heiress of Charles, seigneur de Roye and de Muret, comte de Roucy. Her mother, Madeleine de Mailly, dame de Conti, was the daughter of Louise de Montmorency and half-sister of Admiral Coligny, d'Andelot, and Cardinal de...
(1536–1564). He was given the title of Marquis of Conti and between 1581 and 1597 was elevated to the rank of a prince.
Conti, who belonged to the older faith, appears to have taken no part in the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
until 1587, when his distrust of Henry, 3rd Duke of Guise
Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu , sometimes called Le Balafré, "the scarred", was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este...
caused him to declare against the League
Alliance
An alliance is an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.See also military alliance and business alliance.-International relations:...
and to support his cousin Henry of Navarre, afterwards 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....
.
In 1589 after the murder of Henry III
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
he was one of the two princes of the blood
Prince du Sang
A prince of the blood was a person who was legitimately descended in the male line from the monarch of a country. In France, the rank of prince du sang was the highest held at court after the immediate family of the king during the ancien régime and the Bourbon Restoration...
who signed the declaration recognizing Henry IV
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....
as king, and continued to support Henry even though he himself was mentioned as a candidate for the throne upon the death of Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon
Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon
Charles de Bourbon was a French cardinal. The Catholic League considered him the rightful King of France after the death of Henry III of France in 1589.-Biography:...
in 1590.
Conti's first wife was Jeanne de Coeme, heiress of Bonnétable
Bonnétable
Bonnétable is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.Bonnétable is twinned with Horncastle in rural Lincolnshire. The towns' relationship is commemorated by a Rue Horncastle in Bonnétable, and a Bonnetable Road in Horncastle.-References:*...
; she died in 1601. In 1605 he married Louise Marguerite of Lorraine (1588–1631), daughter of Duke Henry of Guise
Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu , sometimes called Le Balafré, "the scarred", was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este...
and Catherine of Cleves
Catherine of Cleves
Catherine de Clèves was the wife of Henry, Duke of Guise, and matriarch of the numerous and influential House of Guise. By marriage she was Duchess of Guise from 1570 to 1588, and Dowager Duchess of Guise thereafter...
, who was desired by Henry IV. Conti died in 1614. The title of Prince de Conti lapsed following his death in 1614, as his only child, Marie, predeceased him in 1610. She was only three weeks old.
He had an illegitimate son, Nicolas de Conti (d. 1648), abbot of Gramont.
His widow followed the fortunes of Maria de' Medici, from whom she received many marks of favor, and was secretly married to François de Bassompierre
François de Bassompierre
François de Bassompierre was a French courtier.The son of Christophe de Bassompierre , he was born at the castle of Haroué in Lorraine...
, who joined her in conspiring against Cardinal Richelieu. Upon the exposure of the plot the cardinal exiled her to her estate at Eu
Eu, Seine-Maritime
Eu is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.Eu is located near the coast in the eastern part of the department, near the border with Picardie.Its inhabitants are known as the Eudois.-Geography:...
, near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, where she died. The princess wrote Aventures de la cour de Perse, in which, under the veil of fictitious scenes and names, she tells the history of her own time.