Antoine of Navarre

Antoine
Duke of Vendôme
Portrait, 1557
King of Navarre (jure uxoris)
Reign	25 May 1555 – 17 November 1562
Predecessor	Henry II
Successor	Jeanne III
Co-monarch	Jeanne III
Born	22 April 1518 La Fère, Picardy, France
Died	17 November 1562 (aged 44) Les Andelys, Eure
Burial	Vendôme
Spouse	Jeanne III, Queen of Navarre ​ ​ (m. 1548)​
Issue among others...	Henry IV, King of France Catherine, Hereditary Princess of Lorraine Charles, Archbishop of Rouen (ill.)
Names French: Antoine de Bourbon
House	Bourbon-Vendôme
Father	Charles, Duke of Vendôme
Mother	Françoise of Alençon
Religion	See details
Signature

Antoine (22 April 1518 – 17 November 1562), sometimes called Antoine of Bourbon, was King of Navarre from 1555 until his death in 1562 through his marriage (jure uxoris) to Queen Jeanne III. He was the first monarch of the House of Bourbon, of which he became head in 1537. Despite being first prince of the blood in France, Navarre lacked political influence and was dominated by King Henry II of France's favourites, the Montmorency and Guise families. When Henry II died in 1559, Navarre found himself sidelined in the Guise-dominated government, and then compromised by his brother's treason. When Henry's son, King Francis II of France, soon died in turn, Navarre returned to the centre of politics, becoming Lieutenant-General of France and leading the army of the crown in the first of the French Wars of Religion. He died of wounds sustained during the Siege of Rouen. He was the father of King Henry IV, France's first Bourbon king.