The fabulous saga of the house of Bourbon

The fabulous saga of the house of Bourbon

What a story !

Before finally acceding to the throne, the Bourbons had, in just a few centuries, built up the most powerful duchy in the kingdom of France. The saga started at Souvigny and Bourbon-l’Archambault. From 950 to 1327, the Bourbon lords founded the base of their empire. They took advantage of this “no man’s land” to extend their holdings. At one point they had 17 castles. Aymard, the oldest known family ancestor, was followed by several Archambauds, a few Mathildas, Agneses and Beatrixes.

Prince of Peace and Concord

From 1327 to 1589, nine Bourbon dukes were vassals to the kings of France. Some made a strong impression on their era. Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, managed to radically extend his territory even though he was a member of the court of Charles IV (the Fair). John II, sixth Duke of Bourbon, called “the Good”, was the scourge of the English during the Hundred Year’s War. He was also an artist and a patron of the arts as well as an amateur of astrology and zoology. He gave the town of Moulins a superb library. Peter II of Beaujeu, the seventh Duke of Bourbon “Prince of Peace and Concord”, husband to Anne of France, daughter of King Louis XI, helped his illustrious wife to run the kingdom for several years. Charles of Bourbon-Montpensier, Constable of France, after valiantly serving King Francis I, turned against him. His death in 1527 consecrated the unification of the great Bourbon feudal estate by France.

Kings of France

But the Bourbons would make a comeback, a royal comeback! Son of Duke Antoine de Bourbon and the queen of Navarre, Henri IV ascended to the throne. He was succeeded by Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis-Philippe. The Bourbons would also continue to exercise royal power in Spain with an active constitutional monarchy, in the Duchy of Luxembourg, which is still the seat of a reigning branch of the family and the Duchy of Parma where the father of Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, an ephemeral Austrian empress at the dawn of World War I, reigned for several years.

These men and women with their incredible destinies, all from the Bourbonnais region, helped crystallise the virtues of diplomacy, authority, perseverance and a taste for a countryside crisscrossed with winding rivers and dotted with castles symbolising bucolic peace and happiness!
Today, a descendant of the Bourbonnais line, Prince Charles-Henri de Lobkowicz, is renovating the castle of Bostz and hopes to turn it into a museum devoted to the region. Maybe the granddaughter of Juan Carlos, the Infanta Leonor of Spain (Eleanor of All the Saints of Bourbon and Ortiz) will come here some day to learn about the land of her ancient ancestors…

The Bourbon coat of arms

The coat of arms of the house of Bourbon is derived from the heraldry of France: a sky blue background covered with golden fleurs-de-lis and gules, the diagonal stripe crossing the blazon.

The arms of the dukes of Bourbon have the same heraldry as those of the Bourbonnais, their fiefdom, but the presence of only three fleurs-de-lis underlines their direct link with the king.

Some “outstanding Bourbons from the Bourbonnais”

Louis II, Duke of Bourbon

Louis II was a man of honour and a warrior. Born in 1337, he devoted himself entirely to the French crown. He fought his first battle against Edward III of England. Later, he gave himself up to the English as a hostage in exchange for the liberation of King John the Good. In turn he was freed against a ransom.

Alongside Charles V he helped win back lost territories and then left for Castile to help the king of Spain fight the Moors. But he refused to attack Portugal, out of pride! He then fought against Charles II (the Bad) in Normandy. During the reign of Charles VI he returned to fight the Moors again in Aquitaine and then Tunis. He finally retired to the Bourbonnais where he died in Montluçon and was buried in Souvigny. He is considered as the founder of the “Estate of Bourbon” thus ensuring the future power of the feudal territory.

Anne of France, or Anne of Beaujeu, an exceptional regent

Referred to as the “eldest daughter of fortune”, Anne of France was born in 1461, in Genappe in Flanders, the same year her father, Louis XI, was crowned King of France. He married her, at the age of 12, to Peter of Beaujeu, Duke of Bourbon and 20 years her senior. On his deathbed, the king assigned her the formidable responsibility, at the age of 23, of serving as the guardian of the future King Charles VIII, deeming her the “least insane woman in the world, as I know of no wise ones”. With the help of her husband, she took up her father’s mantle. Never had so young a woman displayed such political authority, ensuring the solid attachment of feudal territories to the fledgling kingdom of France. In particular, she annexed the Duchy of Brittany by marrying Anne of Brittany to her brother, King Charles VIII who, in 1495, made Moulins the home of the royal court. Much like a modern day television heroin, only 50 years after Joan of Arc, she became one of the great women of France who profoundly influenced her era. After “running” France, this exceptional figure retired to Chantelle before passing away in 1522 and being buried in Souvigny. She remains famous for consolidating the feudal territories and organising and extending the kingdom of France.

> Anne de Beaujeu Museum

Charles III of Bourbon-Montpensier, Constable of France: an intrepid warrior !

Born in 1490, this literary hero – who is mentioned in The Da Vinci Code – was a 16th-century playboy…Tall, athletic, attractive and brave as the devil, he was made for war and love.
Young and handsome, at the age of 15 he married his cousin Suzanne, daughter of Anne of Beaujeu, a marriage which made him the richest lord of his day. An intrepid knight, he valiantly served King Francis I, also his cousin. After the victory of Marignano in 1515, he was named, at the age of 25, viceroy of Milan and made constable, or head of the royal armies. His future looked bright.
Alas, the King’s mother, Louise of Savoy, 14 years his senior, fell in love with him and, at the death of his wife Suzanne, offered to marry him. He bluntly rejected her offer, leading her to seek revenge by confiscating all his property. Revolted by this injustice he decided to switch alliances. Named lieutenant general to Emperor Charles V, he fought against the French in Italy, winning the battle of Sesia where the Chevalier de Bayard was killed. He then invaded Provence and organised a siege of Marseille. In 1525 he imprisoned François I at Pavia where Jacques de la Palice, Marshal of France, died. François I was freed on condition that he return all of the former constable’s property. But the king did not keep his word. Abandoned by Charles V, he decided to create a principality in Italy, led a successful siege of Rome, which he had pillaged, but then died during battle in 1527. His lands were annexed by the crown. The Bourbonnais, the great feudal Estate of Bourbon, definitively became part of France. In history books, the constable will always be remembered as a traitor.

Not to be missed

Bourbon-l’Archambault fortress, the birthplace of the house of Bourbon

This mythic, royal site is the birthplace of the last dynasty of the kings of France. Bourbon-l’Archambault was first the “capital” of a modest domain and then a duchy-peerage that would become, in the 15th century, one of the largest feudal estates attached to the crown of France.
This medieval fortress, perched atop a rocky pinnacle, was the residence of the Bourbon lords before they became dukes and moved to Moulins.
With fifteen impressive towers, the fortress was essentially used for military defence. The fortress was demolished after being sold during the French Revolution, leaving only the three north towers and the “Qui qu’en grogne” tower, which was built at a later date. These three towers have been refurbished to provide visitors with an idea of life during medieval times. Narrow winding stairwells lead to a series of eight rooms with displays including an alchemist’s laboratory and a fencing room.

Forteresse de Bourbon : +33 (0) 4 70 67 02 30
Bourbon-l’Archambault Regional Tourist Office : +33 (0) 470 67 09 79

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Souvigny, “eldest daughter of Cluny”

A saga of Life and Death ties the town of Souvigny to the House of Bourbon.

It is a saga of Life because by donating his lands to the first abbot of Cluny in 915, Aymard, the ancestor of the Bourbon family, guaranteed the longevity and development of the town. The monastery expanded considerably. The Bourbon dynasty made Souvigny its religious capital, reserving the role of administrative capital for Moulins.

It is a saga of Death because the Bourbons made Souvigny the necropolis of their dynasty. The Dukes Louis II, Charles I, John II, Peter of Beaujeu and his wife Anne of France are all buried there making Souvigny the equivalent of Saint-Denis for the Bourbon line.
Among the thousand establishments belonging to the Cluniac order in the 12th century, the priories of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul at Souvigny were among the “five daughters” of Cluny. The largest Romanesque architectural complex in the Bourbonnais, the grounds also include French gardens and medieval barns that are now home to a museum. Saint Majolus, abbot of Cluny, was buried in 994 in the original church. The recent discovery of his tomb has led to new archaeological digs.

Musée du pays de Souvigny : +33 (0) 4 70 43 99 75 - www.ville-souvigny.fr

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La Mal Coiffée in Moulins – a 15th century castle

Legend has it that one day Archambaud found refuge on this site after a hunting party. He fell in love with a miller and, to honour her, built a hunting lodge that was later transformed into a castle. The town of Moulins developed around the ducal castle. Today, only the keep, baptised “La Mal Coiffée”, remains. This 45-metre high defensive tower got its name from Louis XIV who was surprised by its flat, ungraceful roof. Saved from a fire in 1655, it was used as a prison from the 18th century until 1983. It is currently being renovated.

Moulins Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 44 14 14 - www.pays-bourbon.com

Some interesting castles to visit

The Allier has the second largest number of castles and manor houses in France. There are 574 buildings in all in this exceptional region. You will not find any royal palaces here, but numerous Renaissance buildings and medieval fortresses. Some are visible from the outside, while others are open to the public and even offer rooms to guests. They are modern day reminders of the power the Dukes of Bourbon enjoyed for five centuries.

Château de Busset – 13th century castle (Busset)

Fortress and family manor house of the Bourbon-Busset branch of the line, the castle of Busset is a reminder of the finest hours in the history of France. It dominates the Valley of the River Allier with its elegant Orion tower. Fourteen generations of the Bourbon-Busset family have succeeded here since January 1st 1498. Louise Borgia, daughter of Cesare, brought an Italian Renaissance touch to the rugged fortress when she married Philippe of Bourbon-Busset in 1530.

Henri IV stayed at the castle in 1589.

Château de Busset : +33 (0) 4 70 59 13 93 -www.busset.com

Cusset Tourist Office : 04 70 31 39 41

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Fortress and village of Hérisson

“Small and well trussed…surrounded by doors and high, unscalable walls and well-flanked towers”. This is how the Duke Louis II described the town, founded in the 5th century, and its 12th-century castle.
Perched on a rocky summit, the fortress, surrounded by a wall and flanked by twenty towers, was one of the 17 strategic points in the Bourbonnais. Its ruins rise above the rooftops and look down on the River Aumance, which serves as a natural line of defence for the fortified outcropping. Painters of the Barbizon school have also fallen under Hérisson’s spell.

Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 06 82 23 - www.herisson.pays-allier.com

ZOOM - A picturesque legend :

One day the first Sire of Bourbon, Archambaud l, lost his way, with all his hunting dogs, during a hunting party. His favourite dog ran after a hedgehog, which rolled up into a ball to protect itself. The defensive position of the animal and the strategic location of the site inspired the construction of the fortress.

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Fortress and village of Billy

Built in the 11th century in the centre of the village, the fortress of Billy is an example of castles with closed courtyards where the houses were built against the outer walls. The fortress used to be one of the largest in the Bourbonnais. It became the property of the Bourbons in 1232. This unique complex had three inner courtyards. They can be seen among the lines formed by the streets of the village and the ruins inside the building from the tower on the ramparts. The charm of the old town has remained intact.

Billy Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 43 51 51

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Châteaux de Bostz – 16th century castle (Besson)

Built at the beginning of the Classic era, the castle of Bostz has succeeded in preserving some traces of this style. This rectangular set of buildings has some original features: a round tower at each corner, an elegant fountain in Volvic rock and a chapel with very interesting architectural details. The castle is the last one in the region belonging to the descendants of the Bourbon line. It belongs to Prince Charles-Henri de Lobkowicz, a Parma-Bourbon through his mother, who lives in the castle today. The castle is not open to the public.

Château de Bostz : +33 (0) 4 70 42 80 84

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ZOOM - Columbia University, USA :

The Department of Art and Architecture of Columbia University in New York is passionately interested in Romanesque churches and the medieval architecture of the Bourbonnais region !
The project started three years ago with around thirty students who came to stay at the château de Bostz and study 180 Romanesque churches in the region. Visitors can find many Romanesque buildings of the Allier in 3D on their impressive website : www.learn.columbia.edu/bourbonnais

Towns and villages

Chantelle

Chantelle was one of the favourite homes of the Bourbons. A visit of the village leads to the Saint-Vincent abbey, built in the Auvergne Romanesque style. Located on a rocky summit that overlooks a bend in the River Bouble, it served a castle belonging to the Dukes of Bourbon that was razed by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635.

Chantelle tourist information : +33 (0) 4 70 56 62 37

ZOOM - The Benedictines of Chantelle

Saint-Vincent abbey is home to a community of Benedictine nuns that was created 150 years ago. Although their vocation is prayer, the sisters have another activity that ensures their subsistence. For 50 years they have made and sold toiletries and soaps. Thus, after prayers, each of the 13 nuns takes up her job, from sales management to packaging, in this well-organised community.

Abbaye Saint-Vincent : +33 (0) 4 70 56 62 69

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Montluçon

Built on the site of an 11th century fortress by William, son of Archambaud IV of Bourbon, the castle of the Dukes of Bourbon was built in 1370 and later renovated by Louis II who converted it into a stronghold and made it his favourite residence. There are still remarkable examples of the patronage of the Dukes of Bourbon in the town’s churches and it therefore deserves its title of “Ville d’Art”. Especially worthy of note is the Saint-Pierre district, with its half-timbered houses and 12th century Romanesque church, and the Maison des Douze Apôtres (House of the Twelve Apostles). Exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary Art are organised in the castle and a Medieval Festival of the Dukes of Bourbon is organised every two years in the town centre.

Valley of Montluçon Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 05 11 44 - www.montlucontourisme.com

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