Career
He was one of the favourites, or "mignons", of Monsieur, brother of the king. He was a cousin of François d'Amboise. Bussy became well-known at court as Anjou's "favourite" and later became the lover of Princess Marguerite de Valois.
"Le brave Bussy" made fun of the favourites of the king and frequently fought duels with them. He helped Anjou flee from the court where Henri III held him prisoner. He was a main participant in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre (1572), when he assassinated, among others, his relative Antoine de Clermont.
Bussy d'Amboise is the hero of the play Bussy D'Ambois (1607) by English playwright George Chapman, written 20 years after d'Amboise's death. He is also the hero of the novel Henri III et sa cour by Alexandre Dumas, père. David R. Slavitt featured d'Amboise in his 2011 novel The Duke's Man.
