Louis de Bourbon, comte de Soissons

Louis of Bourbon-Soissons, Count of Soissons, (1604-1641) was the son of Charles de Bourbon, Comte de Soissons and Anne de Montafié. He was the second cousin of King Louis XIII of France.

Born in Paris, he was made governor of the Dauphiné province (1612), an office inherited at the death of his father, and later governor of the Champagne province (1631).

He set up a conspiracy with his cousin Gaston d'Orléans (younger brother of Louis XIII) and the Comte de Montrésor with the intention to murder Richelieu, but the plot failed (1636).

Taking refuge in Sedan with the Duc de Bouillon (prince of the independent principality of Sedan), he plotted again against Richelieu, and the Duc de Bouillon obtained the military support of Spain. A French royal army under Marshal de Châtillon was sent to Sedan, but Marshal de Châtillon was routed at the Battle of La Marfée outside of Sedan on 6 July 1641. The Comte de Soissons, however, was killed during the battle.