Louis de Bussy d'Amboise

Who was Louis de Bussy d'Amboise?

Louis de Clermont, seigneur de Bussy d'Amboise was a gentleman at the court of French king Henri III, a swordsman, dandy, and a lover of both sexes. He was one of the favourites, or "mignons", of Monsieur, brother of the king. He was a cousin of François d'Amboise.

Of a noble family, he entered the service of Prince François, Duke of Anjou, the younger brother and rival of Henri III. Bussy became well-known at court as Anjou's "favourite" and later became the lover of Princess Marguerite de Valois.

"Le brave Bussy" made fun of the favourites of the king and frequently fought duels with them. He helped Anjou flee from the court where Henri III held him prisoner.

He was a main participant in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, when he assassinated, among others, his relative Antoine de Clermont. While later attempting to seduce the wife of Charles de Chambes, Count of Montsoreau, he was trapped and killed by her husband.

Bussy d'Amboise is the hero of the play Bussy D'Ambois by English playwright George Chapman, written 20 years after d'Amboise's death. He is also the hero of the novel Henri III et sa cour by Alexandre Dumas, père.