He was the son of Charles IV de Bourbon, Duc de Vendome (1489-1537) and his wife, formerly Francoise d'Alencon (-1550).
On 20 October 1548 at Moulins he married Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre, daughter of Henri d'Albret (Henri II of Navarre) and his wife Margaret of Angoul�me.
They were the parents of King Henri IV of France (1553-1610).
He died at Andelys, Eure