Antoine de Bourbon | |||||
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![]() Portrait, 1557 | |||||
King of Navarre | |||||
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 | |||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue among others... | |||||
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House | Bourbon-Vendôme | ||||
Father | Charles, Duke of Vendôme | ||||
Mother | Françoise of Alençon | ||||
Religion | See details | ||||
Signature | ![]() |
Antoine de Bourbon, roi de Navarre (22 April 1518 – 17 November 1562) was the King of Navarre through his marriage (jure uxoris) to Queen Jeanne III, from 1555 until his death. 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.