François I, Duke of Nevers

François I de Clèves, (2 September 1516 – 13 February 1561) was a French Prince étranger and military commander during the Italian Wars.

Upon the ascent of Henri II to the throne of France, François would involve himself deeply in the king's ambitions for resuming the Italian Wars.

Upon the death of Henri II, François attempted to control the Protestants of his governorship, who were growing increasingly bold, but was unable to do much to slow the growth of their community.

Throughout his career François had attempted to tie his children into the leading princely families of the northern frontier, who were largely Protestant, those of La Marck and Croÿ.

[1] In 1538, Nevers married Marguerite of Bourbon-La Marche (1516–1589), daughter of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme and Françoise of Alençon.

[8] After the disaster at the battle of Saint-Quentin, Nevers was among those commanders able to lead the remnants of the French army to safety, preserving some of their forces.

[7] In 1557 several Protestant pastors wrote to the Swiss cantons urging them to intercede on behalf of those who had been arrested after the rue Saint-Jacques affair.

The pastors told the Swiss that if the council wrote to the court, there were several influential nobles who would support the arrested worshippers, among them Nevers.

coat-of-arms of Nevers