John I, Count of La Marche

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John of Bourbon-La Marche (John I/VII, Count of La Marche and of Vendôme), (1344 – June 11, 1393, Vendôme) was the second son of James I, Count of La Marche and Jeanne of Châtillon.

He was captured as a young man at the Battle of Poitiers, but ransomed.

After the death of his father and elder brother following the Battle of Brignais, John succeeded them as Count of La Marche. On September 28, 1364, he married Catherine of Vendôme, countess of Vendôme (d. 1412) and daughter of John VI, Count of Vendôme.

He took an active part in the Hundred Years' War, and became Governor of Limousin after helping reconquer it from the English. Later he joined Bertrand du Guesclin in his campaign of 1366 in Castile. In 1374, his brother-in-law Bouchard VII, Count of Vendôme died, and John became Count of Vendôme and Castres in right of his wife.

He joined the campaign of Charles VI 1382 in Flanders (which culminated in the Battle of Roosebeke) and fought in 1392 in Brittany.

He had seven children by Catherine:

He rebuilt the castles of Vendôme and Lavardin.

Preceded by
Peter II		 Count of La Marche
1362–1393		 Succeeded by
James II
Preceded by
Bouchard VII		 Count of Castres
with Catherine
1374–1393		 Succeeded by
James II
with Catherine
Count of Vendôme
with Catherine
1374–1393		 Succeeded by
Louis
with Catherine