Louis I, Duke of Bourbon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louis I
Duke of Bourbon
Reign	1327 – 1341
Predecessor	Title Established
Successor	Peter I
Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis
Reign	1317 – 1327 1331 – 1341
Predecessor	Robert
Successor	Peter I
Count of La Marche
Reign	1322 – 1341
Predecessor	Charles IV, King of France
Successor	James I
Born	1279 Clermont, Oise, France
Died	1341 (aged 61–62) France
Spouse	Mary of Avesnes ​ (m. 1310)​
Issue	Peter I, Duke of Bourbon Joanna, Countess of Forez Margaret of Bourbon Marie, Latin Empress Philip of Bourbon James of Bourbon James I, Count of La Marche Beatrice, Queen of Bohemia
House	Bourbon
Father	Robert, Count of Clermont
Mother	Beatrix of Burgundy

Louis I, also known as Louis the Lame, was an important French noble who lived from 1279 to 1341. He was a close relative of the French kings, known as a prince du sang. Louis was the first Duke of Bourbon, a powerful title. He also held the titles of Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis and Count of La Marche. For a short time, he was even called the King of Thessalonica, a title from a faraway land.

Early Life and Battles

Louis was born in Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, France. His father was Robert, Count of Clermont, and his grandfather was the famous King Louis IX of France. His mother was Beatrix of Burgundy, who inherited the lands of Bourbon.

Louis took part in two major battles early in his life. He fought in the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302 and the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle in 1304. Both battles were losses for the French side, but Louis was lucky and managed to escape without getting hurt.

Important Roles and Crusading Plans

In 1310, Louis was given a very important job: he became the Grand Chambrier of France. This role meant he was a chief officer in the king's household. He was also very interested in crusades, which were religious wars to take back holy lands.

In 1316, Louis became a "crucesignatus," meaning he pledged to go on a crusade. He even helped start a group called the Holy Sepulchre. In 1318, King Philip V of France chose Louis to lead his crusading army. However, these plans were stopped when the French and Papal fleet was defeated in 1319.

The Title of King of Thessalonica

In 1320, Louis wanted to buy the title of King of Thessalonica. He offered a large sum of money, 40,000 livres, to Odo IV, Duke of Burgundy. But another noble, Philip of Taranto, offered the same amount and got the title instead. As part of this deal, Philip's oldest son was to marry Louis's daughter, Beatrice.

Becoming Duke of Bourbon

In 1327, King Charles IV of France asked Louis to trade his County of Clermont for the County of La Marche. The king also made Bourbon a "duchy-peerage," which was a very high and important noble title in France. This made Louis the first Duke of Bourbon. By 1331, Louis got Clermont back because he was a trusted advisor to King Philip VI of France. Louis continued to be involved in French crusade plans until 1336, when the Pope cancelled the crusade.

Health Challenges

Duke Louis faced challenges with his mental health and was known to have periods of nervous breakdowns. This trait is believed to have been passed down in his family. His granddaughter, Joanna of Bourbon, her son, King Charles VI of France, and Charles's grandson, King Henry VI of England, all showed similar signs.

Louis I was buried in a church in Paris called the Couvent des Jacobins, which no longer exists today.

Family and Children

In 1310, Louis married Mary of Avesnes. She was the daughter of John II, Count of Hainaut, who was the Count of Hainaut and Holland. Louis and Mary had several children:

• Peter I, Duke of Bourbon (1311–1356): He married Isabella of Valois and had children. Peter was killed in the Battle of Poitiers.
• Joanna (1312–1402): She married Guigues VII, Count of Forez, in 1324.
• Margaret (1313–1362): She married Jean II de Sully in 1320 and later Hutin de Vermeilles in 1346.
• Marie (1315–1387): She first married Guy of Lusignan in 1330. Later, in 1347, she married Robert of Taranto, who held the title of Latin Emperor.
• Philip (1316 – after 1327).
• James (1318).
• James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362): He was killed in the Battle of Brignais.
• Beatrice (1320 – 1383): She first married John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia in 1334. Later, around 1347, she married Eudes II of Grancey.

Louis also had children from another relationship with Jeanne de Bourbon-Lancy:

• Jean (around 1297–1375): Known as the "bâtard de Bourbon," he was a knight and held several lordships.
• "N" (eldest daughter): Also known as "bâtarde de Bourbon," she married Girard of Châtillon-en-Bazois in 1317.
• Guy (around 1299–1349): Known as "bâtard de Bourbon," he was the lord of Clessy and other lands. He married Agnès of Chastellus and later Isabelle of Chastelperron.
• Jeannette: Also known as "bâtarde de Bourbon," she married Guichard of Chastellus in 1310.

Sources

• Prague: The Crown of Bohemia, 1347–1437. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2005. ISBN 1-58839-161-2.

• Topping, Peter (1975). "The Morea, 1311–1364". In Setton, Kenneth M.. A History of the Crusades, Volume III: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Madison and London: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 104–140. ISBN 0-299-06670-3. http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/History/History-idx?type=article&did=History.CrusThree.i0016&id=History.CrusThree&isize=M.