Charles IV de Bourbon

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Charles IV de Bourbon duc de Vendôme (June 2, 1489 – 1537) was a French nobleman of the court of Francis I of France.

He was born at the Château de Vendôme, the son of François, Count of Vendôme and Marie de Luxembourg. In 1514, he was named a peer of France and elevated from Count of Vendôme to Duke of Vendôme. He was a faithful follower of Francis I and participated in the Battle of Marignan in 1515. After 1525, while the king was held captive, he was a member of the Regency Council. His mother administered his lands during this period.

On May 18, 1513, he married Françoise d'Alençon, the widow of François d'Orléans, Count of Dunois. They had 13 children:

• Louis (1514-1516)
• Antoine de Bourbon (April 22, 1518 – November 17, 1562)
• François, Comte d'Enghien (born 1519)
• Louis (1522-1525)
• Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon
• Jean
• Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (May 7, 1530 – March 13, 1569)
• Marie (died 1538)
• Marguerite (born 1516
• Madeleine, Abbess of Sainte Croix de Poitiers
• Catherine, Abbess of Soissons
• Renée, Abbess of Chelles
• Léonore, Abbess of Fontevraud

His sons Antoine and Louis, Prince de Condé became powerful military leaders on opposite sides in the French Wars of Religion, and his grandson became King Henry IV of France.

Preceded by Created	Duke of Vendôme 1514 – 1537	Succeeded by Antoine de Bourbon
Preceded by Charles III, Duke of Bourbon	Duke of Bourbon 1527 – 1537	Succeeded by Antoine de Bourbon