James, Duke of Nevers

Jacques de Clèves, duc de Nevers and comte d'Eu was a French duke, governor and military commander during the early French Wars of Religion. The son of the duke of Nevers and Marguerite de Bourbon he succeeded his brother as duke of Nevers and count of Rethel and Eu after his elder brother died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Dreux. This made him a ducal peer of France. He would not however inherit his brothers' position as governor of Champagne. During his brief career he was faced with his families overwhelming debts, which the crown intervened in to avoid his situation inducing a more general financial crisis in the nobility. In 1563 he was established as governor of the Nivernais. He died on 9 September 1564, and in the absence of any offspring was succeeded by his sister Henriette de Clèves who married Louis de Gonzague therefore transferring the ducal title to a new family jure uxoris.