Louis de Bourbon (1438–1482) was Prince-Bishop of Liège from 1456 until his death.
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He was the son of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon, and Agnes of Burgundy, sister of Philip the Good. His own sister Isabella was the second wife of Charles the Bold.
He was brought up and educated by his uncle Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who let him study for ten years at the University of Leuven[1].
It has been said that he married, in secret in 1464, Catherine, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelderland. Their son, who may however have been instead a son of a mistress of Louis, founded the Bourbon-Busset family.[2] The three children of Louis were:
Philip secured for him in 1456 the Prince-Bishopric of Liège[4], by influencing Pope Callixtus III, and removing the 69-year-old Jean de Heinsberg[5]. Given the strategic position of Liège almost enclosed by Burgundian possessions, Louis was a poor choice because his behavior quickly led to troubles, permitting French meddling[6].
The citizens rejected the new bishop and the Burgundian influence, which led to the Liège Wars. Louis was exiled to Maastricht.[7]
Marc de Bade was put in place by the Liégeois[8], who fought under Raes van Heers[9], but military force from Burgundy prevailed, in 1465. The resulting Peace of Saint-Trond[10] restored the bishop, but Liège lost its sovereignty. Another revolt in 1467 was crushed at the Battle of Brustem.
In the summer of 1468, Louis was back in his prince-bishopric, after a papal legate had intervened, but was captured at Tongeren by a raiding party from Liège, at that time again asserting independence of Charles the Bold of Burgundy.[11], An unlikely alliance of Charles with Louis XI, who in 1465 had helped the Liégeois against the Bishop, saw Bishop Louis released.[12]. Liège was taken[13], and sacked on October 30, 1468.[14][15].
Louis sold Condé and Leuze to Marie de Montmorency[16].
In 1477, Charles the Bold was killed, and his daughter Mary of Burgundy was forced to sign the Peace of Saint-Jacques, consolidating the Bishop's position but returning sovereignty to Liège.[17] He was at this time amongst the advisers of Mary of Burgundy, heiress of Charles the Bold, who wanted her to marry the future Charles VIII of France, then Dauphin of France[18].
Louis ruled until August 30, 1482, whe he was assassinated by William de la Marck[19], an adventurer who from 1478 had been operating against the territory from the Castle of Logne[20].
The murder of Louis occurs in the novel Quentin Durward by Sir Walter Scott; but the historical details are far from accurate.[21]
There are numerous contemporary accounts[22].