Henry II de Bourbon, 3rd prince de Condé

Henry II de Bourbon known by courtesy as 'Monsieur le Prince'. Grandson of Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé, and son of Henry I Bourbon, who was active in the civil wars on the Huguenot side, he was born after his father's death and brought up as a Catholic at the royal court. In 1609 he was married for convenience by Henry IV to the young Charlotte de Montmorency, with whom the king was infatuated; but Condé fled with her to Brussels to save her from his attentions. He returned after the king's assassination and was appointed to the regency council, but was dissatisfied with the honours accorded him and began to scheme with the duke de Bouillon and other nobles who opposed the queen mother Marie de Medicis. Arrested and imprisoned for three years in the chateau of Vincennes (1616-9), he emerged a changed man, absolutely faithful to the crown. After the disgrace of the queen mother's party in 1630, he gave his support to Richelieu, was appointed governor of Burgundy, became rich and powerful and served the monarchy in several military campaigns. He headed the regency council at the death of Louis XIII.