[1] He was Count of Montpensier, Clermont-en-Auvergne and Sancerre and Dauphin of Auvergne and was a younger brother of Charles I of Bourbon.

He founded the Bourbon-Montpensier branch of the House of Bourbon, which would eventually take over the Duchy in 1505.

After her death in 1436, he retained those titles (his paternal grandmother having been Anne of Auvergne, daughter of Dauphin Beraud II).

On 5 February 1442, he married Gabrielle de La Tour d'Auvergne,[3] daughter of Bertrand V of La Tour, count of Auvergne and Boulogne, and Jacquette of Peschin.

[4] The couple had four children: Louis was succeeded by his son Gilbert.