Antoine of Navarre


Antoine was the King of Navarre through his marriage to Queen Jeanne III, from 1555 until his death. He was the first monarch of the House of Bourbon, of which he was head from 1537. He was the father of Henry IV of France.

Family

Antoine was born at La Fère, Picardy, France, the second son of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and his wife, Françoise d'Alençon. He was the older brother of Louis, Prince of Condé, leader of the Huguenots. In February 1557, Antoine, Jeanne and their son Henry traveled to the French court in Paris, while there King Henry II suggested a betrothal between his daughter Margaret and Henry.

Marriage and children

On 20 October 1548, at Moulins, Antoine married Jeanne d'Albret, the daughter of Henry II of Navarre and his wife Marguerite de Navarre. After his father-in-law's death in May 1555, he became King of Navarre, Count of Foix, of Bigorre, of Armagnac, of Périgord, and Viscount of Béarn. It was reported that Jeanne was much in love with him.
Antoine and Jeanne had:
With his mistress, Louise de La Béraudière de l'Isle Rouhet, Antoine had:
Antoine does not appear to have any real religious conviction and officially changed religions several times. His reconversion to Catholicism separated him from his wife and he threatened to repudiate her. He had an affair with Louise de La Béraudière de l'Isle Rouhet, "la belle Rouet," with whom he had a son, Charles III de Bourbon who became archbishop of Rouen.

War of Religion

, regent for her son Charles IX, named him lieutenant general of the kingdom in 1561. When his wife, Jeanne d'Albret, allowed the Huguenots to sack the chapel and the churches of Vendôme in 1562, he threatened to send her to a convent. She took refuge in Béarn. Antoine was killed during the Siege of Rouen fighting for the Catholics.

Ancestors