Antoine of Navarre

Antoine became King of Navarre in 1555 by marrying Queen Jeanne III, and though he led the House of Bourbon from 1537 and stood as first prince of the blood in France, he spent years watching the Montmorency and Guise families run circles around him under Henry II. Henry II's death in 1559 brought no relief - the Guises tightened their grip, and Antoine's brother's treason left him tainted by association. But when the young Francis II died in turn, the door swung open: Antoine became Lieutenant-General of France and took command of the crown's army as the French Wars of Religion ignited. He fell during the Siege of Rouen in November 1562, dying of his wounds at forty-four. His son would be Henry IV, the first Bourbon king of France.