Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège
Encyclopedia
Louis de Bourbon was Prince-Bishop of Liège from 1456. He was brought up and educated by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy
, who supported him for ten years at the University of Louvain
.
, pushing out the 69-year-old Jean de Heinsberg. This was however a poor choice, given the strategic position of Liège
almost enclosed by Burgundian possessions, and quickly turned out badly, permitting French meddling.
The citizens rejected the new bishop, and Louis was exiled to Maastricht
. The dispute was made a pretext for a 1461 attack on the Duchy of Limburg
.
Marc de Bade was put in place by the Liégeois, who fought under Raes van Heers, but military force from Burgundy prevailed, in 1465. The resulting Peace of Saint-Trond restored the bishop, but Liège lost sovereignty.
In summer 1468 Louis was back in his prince-bishopric, after a papal legate had intervened, but was captured at Tongeren by a raiding party from Liège, at that time again asserting independence of Charles the Bold of Burgundy., despite defeat in 1467 at the Battle of Brustem. An unlikely alliance of Charles with Louis XI, who in 1465 had helped the Liégeois against the Bishop, saw Bishop Louis released, but Liège taken, and sacked.
, Antoing
and Leuze
came to the bishopric, from Richilde de Hainaut. Of these, Louis sold Condé and Leuze to Marie de Montmorency.
In 1477 the Peace of Saint-Jacques consolidated the bishop's position, and led to neutrality for Liège. He was at this time amongst advisers of Mary of Burgundy
, heiress of Charles the Bold, who wanted her to marry the future Charles VIII of France
, then Dauphin of France.
His death was an assassination, on behalf of William de la Marck
, an adventurer who from 1478 had been operating against the territory from the castle of Logne.
, his mother being Agnes of Burgundy
, sister of Philip the Good.
It has been said that he married, in secret in 1464, Catherine, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelderland. Their son, who may however have been instead a son of a mistress of Louis, founded the Bourbon-Busset
family. Three children of Louis were: Pierre de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège; Louis de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège; Jacques de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège.
by Sir Walter Scott; but the historical details are far from accurate.
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
, who supported him for ten years at the University of Louvain
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
.
Conflict over the bishopric
Philip then secured for him the bishopric, by influence with Pope Callixtus IIIPope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III , né Alfons de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
, pushing out the 69-year-old Jean de Heinsberg. This was however a poor choice, given the strategic position of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
almost enclosed by Burgundian possessions, and quickly turned out badly, permitting French meddling.
The citizens rejected the new bishop, and Louis was exiled to Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
. The dispute was made a pretext for a 1461 attack on the Duchy of Limburg
Duchy of Limburg
The Duchy of Limburg, situated in the Low Countries between the river Meuse and the city of Aachen, was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. Its territory is now divided between the Belgian provinces of Liège and Limburg , the Dutch province of Limburg , and a small part of North Rhine-Westphalia in...
.
Marc de Bade was put in place by the Liégeois, who fought under Raes van Heers, but military force from Burgundy prevailed, in 1465. The resulting Peace of Saint-Trond restored the bishop, but Liège lost sovereignty.
In summer 1468 Louis was back in his prince-bishopric, after a papal legate had intervened, but was captured at Tongeren by a raiding party from Liège, at that time again asserting independence of Charles the Bold of Burgundy., despite defeat in 1467 at the Battle of Brustem. An unlikely alliance of Charles with Louis XI, who in 1465 had helped the Liégeois against the Bishop, saw Bishop Louis released, but Liège taken, and sacked.
Later life
In 1471 CondéCondé
-Places in France:*Condé, Indre, in the Indre département*Condé-en-Brie, in the Aisne département*Condé-Folie, in the Somme département*Condé-lès-Autry, in the Ardennes département*Condé-lès-Herpy, in the Ardennes département...
, Antoing
Antoing
Antoing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It consists of the former municipalities of Antoing, Maubray, Péronnes-lez-Antoing, Bruyelle, Calonne and Fontenoy.-History:...
and Leuze
Leuze
Leuze may refer to the following places:*Leuze-en-Hainaut, in the province of Hainaut, Belgium*Somme-Leuze, in the province of Namur, Belgium*Leuze, Aisne, in the department of Aisne, France...
came to the bishopric, from Richilde de Hainaut. Of these, Louis sold Condé and Leuze to Marie de Montmorency.
In 1477 the Peace of Saint-Jacques consolidated the bishop's position, and led to neutrality for Liège. He was at this time amongst advisers of Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy ruled the Burgundian territories in Low Countries and was suo jure Duchess of Burgundy from 1477 until her death...
, heiress of Charles the Bold, who wanted her to marry the future Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
, then Dauphin of France.
His death was an assassination, on behalf of William de la Marck
William de la Marck
William de la Marck was an adventurer, originating in Germany. He became an important character in the late 15th century in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège...
, an adventurer who from 1478 had been operating against the territory from the castle of Logne.
Family
He was the son of Charles I, Duke of BourbonCharles I, Duke of Bourbon
Charles de Bourbon was the oldest son of John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie, Duchess of Auvergne.He was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from 1424, and Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1434 to his death, although due to the imprisonment of his father after the Battle of Agincourt, he acquired...
, his mother being Agnes of Burgundy
Agnes of Burgundy
Agnes of Burgundy was the daughter of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria. Her maternal grandparents were Albert I, Duke of Bavaria and Margaret of Brieg.-Marriage and issue:...
, sister of Philip the Good.
It has been said that he married, in secret in 1464, Catherine, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelderland. Their son, who may however have been instead a son of a mistress of Louis, founded the Bourbon-Busset
Bourbon-Busset
The Bourbon-Busset family is an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, being thus agnatic descendants of the Capetian dynasty. Historically they have been regarded as non-dynastic since decisions rendered by Louis XI of France....
family. Three children of Louis were: Pierre de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège; Louis de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège; Jacques de Bourbon, bâtard de Liège.
In literature
The murder of Louis occurs in the novel Quentin DurwardQuentin Durward
Quentin Durward is a historical novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1823. The story concerns a Scottish archer in the service of the French King Louis XI ....
by Sir Walter Scott; but the historical details are far from accurate.