Charles II de Bourbon-Vendôme

Charles II of Bourbon (1562–1594), known as Cardinal de Vendôme and later as Cardinal de Bourbon, was a prince of the blood of the House of Bourbon. When his Protestant cousin became King Henry IV of France in 1589, he raised the hopes of Catholics hostile to the League and was a candidate for the crown of France.

Born August 19, 1562 at Gandelus-en-Brie, Charles was the son of Louis I de Bourbon-Conde, Prince of Conde and Duke of Enghien, and Eleonore de Roye. He was the nephew of Cardinal Charles de Bourbon.

He did not receive priestly ordination. Elected coadjutor archbishop of Rouen with right of succession on 1 August 1582, he did not receive episcopal consecration.

He was created cardinal deacon by Pope Gregory XIII in the consistory of December 12, 1583, but he did not receive the red hat or a titular church. He was known as the Cardinal de Vendôme (the name of the branch of the Bourbon family which he came).

He was advisor to King Henry III of France. He was a director of the diocese of Bayeux from 1586 to 1590. In 1589 he was appointed abbot of Saint-Denis in commendam. He also held the commendams of the abbeys of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Ouen in Rouen, Bourgueil, St. Catherine of Rouen, and Ourscamp.

During the events of the League, he chose, unlike his brothers, to follow his uncle, Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon in his action against the Protestants. He showed himself unfavorable to Henry I, Duke of Guise and according to historian Jacques Auguste de Thou was allegedly used by King Henry III to break the influence that Lorraine had over the Cardinal de Bourbon. In 1588, he participated in the Estates General of Blois.

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