Francis

Francis de Bourbon or François de Bourbon (Francis I, Count of Vendôme) (1470 – 30 October 1495), was a French prince du sang. He was the Count of Vendôme.

Francis was the son of John VIII de Bourbon, Count of Vendôme and Isabelle de Beauveau, the daughter of Louis de Beauvau, Marshal of Provence. As a legitimate member of the Capetian dynasty, he ranked in France as a prince du sang. At his father's death, when he was seven, he succeeded as Count of Vendôme. During his minority, his estates were administered by his uncle, Louis le Joyeuse.

Francis was a faithful follower of Anne of France and her brother, King Charles VIII of France.

In 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, and the widow of Jacques of Savoy, Count of Romont. She brought great estates as her dowry, including the countships of Saint-Pol and Soissons in Picardy, as well as the Château de Condé, which was later passed down as a residence to the Princes of Condé who were the descendants of her grandson, Louis de Bourbon, 1st Prince of Condé.

They had six children:

• Charles de Bourbon (1489–1537), who later became Duke of Vendôme. French King Henry IV was his grandson and all French Kings starting from Henry IV descend from him in the male line.
• Jacques de Bourbon (1490–1491), died young.
• Francis 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.

Also 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 IV de Bourbon. His widow Marie administered the family's estates during Charles' minority.

Patrilineal descent