The Bourbons

Duke of Bourbon and Vendôme and first blood prince. He was married to Jeanne d’Albret, queen of Navarre, who had become Protestant in 1560, whereas Antoine remained Catholic. He was killed at the siege of Rouen. He was the father of Henri IV to be.

Cardinal of Bourbon and future Charles X of the Leaguers.

First Prince of Condé, Antoine de Bourbon’s younger brother, he converted to Calvinism in 1558 and led the Protestant uprising in 1562. He was made prisoner at the battle of Dreux and negotiated the Peace of Amboise that ended the first war. He was killed by a Duke of Anjou’s officer at the battle of Jarnac.

Second Prince of Condé and son of Louis. He was made to recant Protestantism after the Saint Bartholomew massacre, and managed to find refuge in Germany where he recruited troops. In July 1574 he was declared “chief, general governor and protector of the Reformed Churches”, a title later given to Henri de Navarre when he returned to the Calvinist faith. Officially Governor of the Picardie region since 1573, he was hostile to reconciliation and resisted the royal troops. He died of an illness, but may have been poisoned by his second wife.