John II, Duke of Bourbon
Encyclopedia
John de Bourbon, Duke of Bourbon (1426 – 1 April 1488, Château
de Moulins
), sometimes referred to as John the Good and The Scourge of the English, was a son of Charles I of Bourbon
and Agnes of Burgundy
. He was Duke of Bourbon
and Auvergne
from 1456 to his death.
He was made constable of France
in 1483 by his brother Peter
and sister-in-law Anne
, to neutralize him as a threat to their regency.
In an effort to win discontented nobles back to his side, Louis XI of France
made great efforts to give out magnificent gifts to certain individuals; John was a recipient of these overtures. According to contemporary chronicles, the King received John in Paris with "honours, caresses, pardon, and gifts; everything was lavished upon him". In further attempts to gain the nobles' favor, the King proposed a match between his eldest legitimized daughter Marguerite to John's eldest illegitimate son Louis de Bourbon. The marriage was celebrated in Paris with royal magnificence and the wedded couple were heaped with honors and wealth by the King. It has been said despite all of his brilliant marriages, nothing flattered John more than this particular marriage between his natural son and a legitimized daughter of the King.
John is notable for making three brilliant alliances but leaving no legitimate issue.
, Joan of Valois. They were duly married at the Château de Moulins. They had no surviving issue.
to Catherine of Armagnac, daughter of Jacques of Armagnac, Duke of Nemours, who died in 1487 while giving birth to:
, by whom he had one son:
. However, this succession was strongly contested due to the political strength of Peter and Anne. Within a span of days, Charles was forced to renounce his claims to the Bourbon lands to Peter in exchange for a financial settlement. John's widow Jeanne would later remarry to John III, Count of Auvergne
and by him she became the mother of Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne
, the mother of Catherine de Medici.
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
de Moulins
Moulins, Allier
Moulins is a commune in central France, capital of the Allier department.Among its many tourist attractions are the Maison Mantin the Anne de Beaujeu Museum.-History:...
), sometimes referred to as John the Good and The Scourge of the English, was a son of Charles I of Bourbon
Charles I, Duke of Bourbon
Charles de Bourbon was the oldest son of John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie, Duchess of Auvergne.He was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from 1424, and Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1434 to his death, although due to the imprisonment of his father after the Battle of Agincourt, he acquired...
and Agnes of Burgundy
Agnes of Burgundy
Agnes of Burgundy was the daughter of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria. Her maternal grandparents were Albert I, Duke of Bavaria and Margaret of Brieg.-Marriage and issue:...
. He was Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon...
and Auvergne
Rulers of Auvergne
-History:In the 7th century Auvergne was disputed between the Franks and Aquitanians. It was later conquered by the Carolingians, and was integrated for a time into the kingdom of Aquitaine...
from 1456 to his death.
Life
John earned his nicknames "John the Good" and "The Scourge of the English" for his efforts in helping drive out the English from France.He was made constable of France
Constable of France
The Constable of France , as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King...
in 1483 by his brother Peter
Peter II, Duke of Bourbon
Peter II, Duke of Bourbon was the son of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon and Agnes of Burgundy, and a member of the House of Bourbon...
and sister-in-law Anne
Anne of France
Anne of France was the eldest daughter of Louis XI of France and his second wife, Charlotte of Savoy. Anne was the sister of King Charles VIII of France, for whom she acted as regent during his minority; and of Joan of France, who was briefly queen consort to Louis XII...
, to neutralize him as a threat to their regency.
In an effort to win discontented nobles back to his side, Louis XI of France
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
made great efforts to give out magnificent gifts to certain individuals; John was a recipient of these overtures. According to contemporary chronicles, the King received John in Paris with "honours, caresses, pardon, and gifts; everything was lavished upon him". In further attempts to gain the nobles' favor, the King proposed a match between his eldest legitimized daughter Marguerite to John's eldest illegitimate son Louis de Bourbon. The marriage was celebrated in Paris with royal magnificence and the wedded couple were heaped with honors and wealth by the King. It has been said despite all of his brilliant marriages, nothing flattered John more than this particular marriage between his natural son and a legitimized daughter of the King.
John is notable for making three brilliant alliances but leaving no legitimate issue.
First Marriage
In 1447, his father, the Duke of Bourbon, had his heir married to a daughter of Charles VII, King of FranceCharles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
, Joan of Valois. They were duly married at the Château de Moulins. They had no surviving issue.
Second marriage
In 1484 at St. CloudSt. Cloud
St. Cloud may refer to:*Saint Cloud, also known as Clodoald, a son of the Frankish king Chlodomer*Saint-Cloud, a town in France*Château de Saint-Cloud, a royal château in FranceIn the United States:*St. Cloud, Florida...
to Catherine of Armagnac, daughter of Jacques of Armagnac, Duke of Nemours, who died in 1487 while giving birth to:
- John of Bourbon (Moulins, 1487), styled Count of Clermont
Third marriage
In 1487 he married Jeanne of Bourbon-Vendôme, daughter of John of Bourbon, Count of VendômeJean VIII, Count of Vendôme
Jean de Bourbon was a French nobleman, son of Louis, Count of Vendôme. He was a courtier of King Charles VII of France and fought the English in Normandy and Guyenne. He attached himself to King Louis XI, but was not in his royal favor...
, by whom he had one son:
- Louis of Bourbon (1488), styled Count of Clermont
Death and aftermath
John died in 1488 and was succeeded by his younger brother CharlesCharles II, Duke of Bourbon
Charles II, Duke of Bourbon , the son of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon and Agnes of Burgundy, was a member of the House of Bourbon...
. However, this succession was strongly contested due to the political strength of Peter and Anne. Within a span of days, Charles was forced to renounce his claims to the Bourbon lands to Peter in exchange for a financial settlement. John's widow Jeanne would later remarry to John III, Count of Auvergne
John III, Count of Auvergne
John III of Auvergne , Count of Auvergne, was the son of Bertrand VI of Auvergne and Louise de La Tremoille , Dame de Boussac, the daughter of Georges de la Trémoille...
and by him she became the mother of Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne
Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne
Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne was a younger daughter of Jean III de La Tour , Count of Auvergne and Lauraguais, and Jeanne de Bourbon-Vendôme . She was a penultimate representative of the senior branch of the house de La Tour d'Auvergne...
, the mother of Catherine de Medici.