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

Life

John was captured as a young man at the Battle of Poitiers, but ransomed. Following the deaths of his father and elder brother at the Battle of Brignais, John succeeded them as Count of La Marche. John 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. John joined the campaign of Charles VI 1382 in Flanders (which culminated in the Battle of Roosebeke) and fought in 1392 in Brittany. John rebuilt the castles of Vendôme and Lavardin.

Marriage and children

On 28 September 1364, John married Catherine of Vendôme, countess of Vendôme (d. 1412) and daughter of John VI, Count of Vendôme. He had seven children by Catherine:

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