Soissons:  A younger branch of the Condé who never played a great role in French politics but the title passed on to the Savoy family but this is another story...  
French page Charles (1566-1612)
Comte de Soissons.

His parents: Louis I and Françoise d'Orléans-Longueville
His brothers: Henri I and François.
His wife Anne de Montafié bore him a son Louis ad a daughter Marie-Marguerite.
  He was a major figure in the Wars of Religion and in the ultimate succession of Henry IV of Bourbon. His father Louis I de Bourbon, the first prince de Condé, had acquired the countship of Soissons in 1557, and upon his death in 1569 it passed to his youngest son.

Charles fought for Henry of Bourbon (the future Henry IV) against Henry III of France together with his brother Henri I of Condé at Coutras (1587), for Henry III against the Holy League (led by the House of Guise) in Brittany, and finally for Henry IV against the League in Normandy and against Savoy.
He could not get Henry IV to marry his sister, Catherine. He protested when, on Henry IV's death in 1610, the queen mother, Marie de Médicis, was named regent; but he was appeased with the governorship of Normandy. He died two and a half years later.
Louis (1604-1641)
Comte de Soissons.

His parents: Charles and Anne de Montafié. His sister: Marie

 French page
He will refuse the hand of Mme. d'Aiguillon, one of the nieces of Richelieu. Initially at the service of Marie de Medicis, he passes on the side of the King to fight the huguenots in 1622. He plotted with Gaston d'Orleans against Richelieu and had to take refuge in Sedan. City which became during several years one of the centers of the rebellion against Richelieu. He was the most savage adversary of the cardinal. In 1636 it had formed with Monsieur the plot to kill Richelieu in Amiens, but the plan was not put at excecution. An army of " malcontents " carried out by the duc de Guise started to be formed. Combined with the Spaniards, he intrigued with the duc de Bouillon and invades the French territory with the head of an army with which he wins gains the battle of Mafrée against Gaspard de Coligny. Louis perishes after the combat, perhaps assassinated when he washit by a bullet when he raises its visor. The princes having lost their herald, they did not have any other alternative and had to ask for mercy. The King had then the project to bring a lawsuit for lese-majesty to the body of the late Soissons. He had been a courageous but irresolute man. He was not made to carry out a faction in a so complex civil war where each one had changed camp many times. Without a legitimate heir, with him the branch of Soissons dies out. He had nevertheless a natural son, Louis-Henri, Chevalier of Soissons (1646-1703). 


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