Jacques d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours

Who was Jacques d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours?

Jacques d'Armagnac, duke of Nemours was the son of Bernard d'Armagnac, count of Pardiac, and Eleanor of Bourbon-La Marche.

While styled Count of Castres, he served under Charles VII of France in Normandy in 1449 and 1450, and afterwards in Guienne. Louis XI awarded him with honours. In 1462, Jacques succeeded his father, and Louis XI married him to his god-daughter, Louise of Anjou, daughter of Charles of Le Maine. Louis XI also recognized his title to the duchy of Nemours, which he had disputed with the King of Navarre. Sent by Louis to pacify Roussillon, Nemours felt that he had been insufficiently rewarded for the rapid success of this expedition, and joined the League of the Public Weal in 1465. Subsequently, he reconciled with Louis, but soon resumed his intrigues. After twice pardoning him, the king's patience became exhausted, and he besieged the duke's chateau at Carlat and imprisoned him. Nemours was treated with the utmost rigour, being shut up in a cage. He was finally condemned to death by the parlement and beheaded, 4 Aug 1477.

He and Louise had six children:

Jacques

Jean d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours

Louis d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours