He was the third son of François de Bourbon and Marie de Luxembourg, Countess of St. Pol, he was raised largely in the castle of La Fere, where his mother had come to reside after being widowed. He was godfather to Louis de Bourbon, Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon. He is sometimes called Francois-Louis, with Vendome Latinised as "Vendocimo". He was the nephew of Cardinal Philippe de Luxembourg and Charles II of Bourbon. He was the uncle of Cardinal Charles II of Bourbon, and great-uncle of Cardinal Charles III of Bourbon. He studied at the College of Navarre, and became doctor of theology at the Sorbonne, he had become headmaster during the reign of Henry II. He was ordained priest in Faremoutiers by Cardinal Georges d'Amboise, Legate of France. Elected Bishop of Laon 24 April 1510 with an exemption because he had not reached the canonical age, he took his vows in front of King Francis I 9 June 1517 and was elevated to cardinal in the consistory of 1 July 1517 ; he was appointed as the first abbot of St. Denis in 1529, Archbishop of Sens in 1535, Father, Lord of Conde. He raised his nephew, Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Conde. He rebuilt the castle Anizy-le-Chateau, and build the Palais Bourbon. He was present at the coronation of Queen Claude of France in the abbey of Saint-Denis, signed the marriage contract of Dauphin Francis with Mary of England. He baptized Prince Francis and Henry of Navarre, celebrated the marriage of Madeleine of France with James V of Scotland. He presided over the funeral of Louise of Savoy and of the king in the Abbey of St. Denis 23 May 1547. He crowned the queen Eleanor of Austria and Catherine de Medicis. He stood away from the election of Adrian VI, Clement VII and Julius III, but was present at the election of Pope Paul III Marcellus II and Paul IV. He took part in the war council of 18 February 1536 decided that the resumption of hostilities with Emperor Charles V. He presided over the convocation at Melun in 1548. In 1551 Henry II appointed him military governor of Picardy, and in 1552 Paris and the Ile-de-France. He is buried in the chancel of the cathedral of Laon. Pierre Jumel pronounced his funeral oration.
