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Louis de Bourbon, Comte de Vermandois

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Louis de Bourbon, Comte de Vermandois

Birth
Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Departement des Yvelines, Île-de-France, France
Death
18 Nov 1683 (aged 16)
Belgium
Burial
Arras, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France Add to Map
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Count, Legitimized Son of the King. Louis de Bourbon, son of King Louis XIV of France and his mistress Louise de La Vallière, was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France. He was one of two children of that liaison that survived infancy. As was the case with his sister Marie Anne de Bourbon, he was given the surname de Bourbon as a result of his illegitimacy, rather than the surname de France accorded the king's legitimate issue. He was legitimized at age two in 1669, and given the title of Count of Vermandois. Louis was also made an Admiral of France. His mother entered a Carmelite convent in Paris in 1674, and assumed the name "Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde." Afterwards, Louis lived in Paris with his uncle Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte at the Palais Royal. He became acquainted with the Chevalier de Lorraine, his homosexual uncle's most notorious lover. He is thought to have been seduced by the chevalier and his friends, including François Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conti. His father the king exiled Louis and the Chevalier de Lorraine. His aunt Elizabeth Charlotte, who was fond of the boy despite the circumstances of his birth, suggested to the king that he be sent to Flanders as a soldier. While his aunt generally felt antipathy for her brother-in-law's mistresses and illegitimate children, her nephew Louis was one of the exceptions. While at the Siege of Courtray, the boy fell ill. He continued to fight despite advice to the contrary, in a desperate attempt to regain his father's love. He died in Flanders (now Belgium) at age sixteen, and was interred at the Cathedral of Arras. Later, Louis was one of the many who were suspected of being the "Man in the Iron Mask."
Count, Legitimized Son of the King. Louis de Bourbon, son of King Louis XIV of France and his mistress Louise de La Vallière, was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France. He was one of two children of that liaison that survived infancy. As was the case with his sister Marie Anne de Bourbon, he was given the surname de Bourbon as a result of his illegitimacy, rather than the surname de France accorded the king's legitimate issue. He was legitimized at age two in 1669, and given the title of Count of Vermandois. Louis was also made an Admiral of France. His mother entered a Carmelite convent in Paris in 1674, and assumed the name "Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde." Afterwards, Louis lived in Paris with his uncle Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte at the Palais Royal. He became acquainted with the Chevalier de Lorraine, his homosexual uncle's most notorious lover. He is thought to have been seduced by the chevalier and his friends, including François Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conti. His father the king exiled Louis and the Chevalier de Lorraine. His aunt Elizabeth Charlotte, who was fond of the boy despite the circumstances of his birth, suggested to the king that he be sent to Flanders as a soldier. While his aunt generally felt antipathy for her brother-in-law's mistresses and illegitimate children, her nephew Louis was one of the exceptions. While at the Siege of Courtray, the boy fell ill. He continued to fight despite advice to the contrary, in a desperate attempt to regain his father's love. He died in Flanders (now Belgium) at age sixteen, and was interred at the Cathedral of Arras. Later, Louis was one of the many who were suspected of being the "Man in the Iron Mask."

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