François de Bourbon | |
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Count of Enghien | |
![]() Portrait by Corneille de Lyon | |
Born | 23 September 1519 La Fère, Kingdom of France |
Died | 23 February 1546 La Roche-Guyon |
Father | Charles, Duke of Vendôme |
Mother | Françoise d'Alençon |
François de Bourbon, Count of Enghien (23 September 1519 – 23 February 1546) was a French prince du sang from the House of Bourbon-Vendôme, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon (itself a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty). He was the son of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme and Françoise d'Alençon.
Given command of the French army in Italy by Francis I of France during the Italian War of 1542, he was the French commander at the successful Franco-Ottoman Siege of Nice in 1543,[1] and he led it to victory at the Battle of Ceresole in a year later in 1544.[2]
His early death at the age of 26 was caused by an accident – specifically by the falling of a heavy chest – in the castle La Roche-Guyon. He was succeeded as Count of Enghien by his younger brother John (Jean), who was also the Count of Soissons.[3]