CONDE, PRINCES OF. The French title of prince of Conde, assumed from the ancient town of Conde-sur-l'Escaut, was borne by a branch of the house of Bourbon. The first who assumed it was the famous Huguenot leader, Louis de Bourbon (see below), the fifth son of Charles de Bourbon, duke of Ven dOme. His son, HENRY, prince of Conde (1552-1588), also be longed to the Huguenot party. Fleeing to Germany he raised a small army with which in 1575 he joined Alencon. He became leader of the Huguenots, but after several years' fighting was taken prisoner of war. Not long after he died of poison, adminis tered, according to the belief of his contemporaries, by his wife, Catherine de la Tremouille. This event, among others, awoke strong suspicions as to the legitimacy of his heir and namesake, HENRY, prince of Conde 0588-1646). In 16o9 King Henry IV. arranged for him a marriage with Charlotte de Montmorency, whom shortly after Conde was obliged to save from the king's persistent gallantry by a hasty flight, first to Spain and then to Italy. On the death of Henry, Conde returned to France, and in trigued against the regent, Marie de' Medici; but he was seized, and imprisoned for three years 0616-19). His wife elected to share his captivity. On his release Conde strove to blot out the memory of the Huguenot connections of his house by affecting the greatest zeal against Protestants. His son Louis, the great Conde, is separately noticed.
The next in succession was HENRY JULES, prince of Conde 0643-1709), son of the great Conde and of Claire Clemence de Maille-Breze, niece of Richelieu. His grandson, Louis Henry, duke of Bourbon (1692-174o), Louis XV.'s minister, did not assume the title of prince of Conde which properly belonged to him.
The son of the duke of Bourbon, LOUIS JOSEPH, prince of Conde (1736-1818), distinguished himself in the Seven Years War, and most of all by his victory at Johannesburg. As governor of Bur gundy he improved the industries and means of communication of that province. At the Revolution he took up arms in behalf of the king, became commander of the "army of Conde," and fought in conjunction with the Austrians till the peace of Campo Formio in '797, being during the last year in the pay of England. He then served the emperor of Russia in Poland, and after that 0800) returned into the pay of England, and fought in Bavaria. In 1800 Conde arrived in England, where he resided for several years. On the restoration of Louis XVIII. he returned to France. He died in Paris in 1818. He wrote Essai sur la vie du grand Conde (1798).