Louis, Duke of Vendôme
Louis I de Bourbon ( * October 1612 in Paris; † August 12, 1669 in Aix -en- Provence) was Duke of Vendôme, Beaufort, Mercœur, Penthièvre and Etampes, grandson of the French King Henry IV and Cardinal since 1667.
He was the eldest son of the Duke César de Bourbon and his wife Françoise de Lorraine - Mercœur. Louis succeeded his father in 1665 as Duke of Vendôme.
The man described as meek and pious married on February 4, 1651 even as Duke of Mercœur in Paris Laura Mancini, niece of Cardinal Mazarin, a ( house Mazarin Mancini ). He was thereby governor of Provence, and received the command of an army in Italy. After his wife's death († 1657), the Duke withdrew to a monastery and eventually became a priest.
Shortly before his death, Louis Cardinal and legate of the Holy See at the French court. In Aix -en- Provence he built ( Pavillon de Vendôme ) for himself and his lover Lucrece de Forbin - Sollies a Baroque pleasure palace.
He and his wife had three sons:
- Louis Joseph II (1654-1712), Duke of Vendôme
- Philippe (1655-1727), Duke of Vendôme
- Jules César (1657-1660)