 Louis was the son of César de Bourbon, "Légitimé de France", Duke of Vendôme and Françoise de Lorraine (1592–1669), daughter of Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur (d. 1602).Louis had a military career and became governor of Provence in 1640 and after the death of his wife in 1657, he entered the church and became a cardinal and legate of France.As a cardinal, he was styled as the "cardinal de Vendôme".