Jacques, Duke of Nemours

Who was Jacques, Duke of Nemours?

Jacques of Savoy, 2nd Duke of Nemours became Duke of Nemours in 1533.

He distinguished himself at the sieges of Lens and Metz, at the Battle of Renty and in the campaign of Piedmont.

He was a supporter of the house of Guise, and had to retire for some time into Savoy in consequence of a plot. On his return to France he fought the Huguenots, and signalized himself by his successes in Dauphiné and Lyonnais. In 1567 he induced the court to return from Meaux to Paris, took part in the battle of Saint Denis, protested against the peace of Longjumeau, and repulsed the invasion of Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken. He devoted his last years to letters and art, and died at Annecy.

He was married to Anna d'Este, daughter of Duke Ercole II of Ferrara and Renée of France, and widow of Francis, Duke of Guise. He was succeeded as Duke of Nemours by his son, Charles Emmanuel de Savoie, 3rd Duc de Nemours.

A fictionalized version of the 2nd Duke of Nemours serves as the love interest in the early novel La Princesse de Clèves, which takes place at the court of Henry II of France.