John VIII, Count of Vendôme
John VIII de Bourbon was Count of Vendôme from 1446 until his death.
Life
John was the son of Louis, Count of Vendôme and Jeanne de Laval. As a courtier of King Charles VII of France, he fought the English in Normandy and Guyenne. He attached himself to King Louis XI, but was not in royal favor. He withdrew to the Château of Lavardin and completed its construction.Marriage and issue
In 1454, he married Isabelle de Beauvau, daughter of Louis de Beauvau, Marshal of Provence and Marguerite de Chambley. They had:- Jeanne, married in 1477 to
- Catherine, married Gilbert de Chabannes
- Jeanne, married at first John II, Duke of Bourbon and later John III, Count of Auvergne
- Renée, Abbess of Fontevraud
- François, Count of Vendôme
- Louis, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon
- Charlotte, married Engelbert, Count of Nevers
- Isabelle, Abbess of la Trinité de Caen
- Louis, Bishop of Avranches
- Jacques, Governor of Valois and the Vendomois