Ancient Diocese of Saint-Malo

Roman Catholic diocese in France/(c. 7th century - 1801)

This article is about the diocese of Aleth (Saint-Malo) in Brittany. For the diocese in Languedoc, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Alet.

Diocese of Saint-Malo

Dioecesis Maclovensis

Saint-Malo Cathedral

Location
Country| France
Ecclesiastical province| Tours
Information
Denomination| Catholic
Rite| Roman
Dissolved| 1790 / 1801
Language| Latin
Map
The former diocese of Saint-Malo

The former Breton and French Catholic Diocese of Saint-Malo (Latin: Dioecesis Alethensis, then Dioecesis Macloviensis) existed from at least the 7th century until the French Revolution. Its seat was at Aleth until the 12th century, when it was moved to Saint-Malo. Its territory extended over some of the modern departments of Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-d'Armor, and Morbihan. Until the 860s, it was sometimes termed the bishopric in (the monastery of) Poutrocoet.

## History

[edit]

In early Brittany, church organization was not centered on cities and dioceses, since the Roman system of government had not reached so far to the west and north, but on monasteries, populated from the British isles and Ireland.[1] Dol, Treguier, and Alet were considered monastery-bishoprics until the 11th century.[2]

Already by the mid-6th century the metropolitan bishop of Tours was struggling to exert his authority over the bishops of Brittany. At the Council of Tours in 567, which was attended by no bishop of Brittany, a canon forbade the consecration of any bishop of Armorica without the consent of the metropolitan.[3]

In 826, after two generations of warfare between Franks and Britons, Brittany was conquered, and created a duchy by the Franks. Louis the Pious made the Breton Nominoe the first duke.[4] But when the Emperor Louis died in 840, Nominoe embarked on an independence campaign for Brittany, while posing as a loyal adherent of the distant Emperor Lothair.[5] His plan included ridding himself of bishops who had supported the Gallicising of the Breton church.[6] Simony was a convenient charge.[7]

Bishop Rethwalatrus is referred to as Redhuualatro episcopo in Poutrocoet in a document of 863, in the cartulary of Redon,[8] and again in 858.[9]

Incursions of the Normans into Brittany began in 843 with the sack of Nantes, repeated in 853 and 866. Treguier and Dol and the whole north coast were ravaged between 878 and 882. The abbey of Landévennec was destroyed in 913. In 919, there was general devastation throughout Brittany, causing nobles and monks, with their treasures, to flee the country. The abbey of Redon was destroyed. By 936, the Normans were masters of all Brittany.[10]

In 965, Bishop Salvator, along with Abbot Juanus of Saint-Malo, was forced to flee to Paris from the Normans. He died there, perhaps around 1000.[11]

At a synod held by Pope Leo IX in Reims in October 1049, several clergy of Tours laid a complaint through the archbishop of Reims before the assembly. The bishop of Dol and seven of his suffragans had attempted to secede from the metropolitanate of Tours, and form their own ecclesiastical province, with the bishop of Dol as archbishop and metropolitan, all without papal authority and contrary to custom. Pope Leo ordered the bishop to appear next year at the Roman synod to answer the charges.[12] On 1 September 1050, he wrote to the duke and count of Brittany, informing them that, in accordance with previous papal decisions, all their bishops were subject to the archbishop of Tours, and that in no way could he approve the demand for a separate ecclesiastical province. He had excommunicated all the bishops, not only for their presumption, and their failure to appear at the Roman synod, but for their involvement in simony as well. They were not to carry out ecclesiastical functions or impart blessings.[13]

### Saint-Malo

[edit]

The town of Saint-Malo lies at the mouth of the Rance River, on the east (right) bank. It was originally an island in the estuary, similar in situation to Mont Saint-Michel.

Eventually, Saint-Malo became the seat of the bishop,[14] though it is still in a monastery. In 1062, Bishop Rainaldus signed himself episcopus de Masloo de Bidainono[15] The cathedral of Saint-Vincent dates from the 12th to 14th century.[16]

The cathedral was staffed by a corporation called the Chapter, led by four dignities (the Dean, the Archdeacon of Dinan, the Archdeacon of Pohorët, and the Cantor)[17] and twenty-three canons.[18] Before the transfer of the diocese to Saint-Malo, the canons were Canons Regular of Saint-Victor de Paris. In 1319, however, they were secularized by order of Pope John XXII. The canons were not subject to epsicopal jurisdiction, but depended directly upon the Holy See (Papacy).[19]

Bishop Pierre Benoît (1349–1359) held a diocesan synod in 1349.[20] Bishop Guillaume Poulart (1359–1374) attended the provincial council of Tours in March 1365, which met at Angers, under the presidency of Archbishop Simon.[21] Bishop Robert de la Motte (1389–1423) held diocesan synods in 1402 and 1406.[22] Bishop Pierre Piédru (1434–1449) attended the provincial council of Tours, held in Angers in 1448.[23] Bishop Jean L'Espervier (1450–1486) presided over a diocesan synod in 1452.[24]

#### Concordat of Bologna

[edit]

In 1516, following the papal loss of the Battle of Marignano, Pope Leo X signed a concordat with King Francis I of France, removing the rights of all French entities which held the right to elect to a benefice, including bishoprics, canonicates, and abbeys, and granting the kings of France the right to nominate candidates to all these benefices, provided they be suitable persons, and subject to confirmation of the nomination by the pope. This removed the right of cathedral chapters to elect their bishop, or even to request the pope to name a bishop. The Concordat of Bologna was strongly protested by the University of Paris and by the Parliament of Paris.[25]

#### Seminary

[edit]

Bishop Achille de Harlay de Sancy (1631–1644) was interested in improving the quality of his clergy, and this of necessity involved creating a seminary. He invited Father Vincent de Paul, the co-founder and superior of the Congregation of the Mission to visit his diocese and consider the possibilities in Saint-Malo. The bishop waS also abbot commendatory of the abbey of Saint-Meen (Mevennius),[26] for which he had obtained the necessary permissions to convert into a seminary from King Louis XIV, and from the reluctant but eventually compliant Benedictines. De Paul was agreeable, and in 1645 his priests, called colloquially Lazarists, opened the institution, which they staffed down until the abolition of religious orders by the French Revolution in 1791.[27]

In 1739, the city of Saint-Malo had a population of c. 7,000 persons. The diocese had 162 parishes.[28]

### French Revolution

[edit]

One of the first acts of the French Revolution was the abolition of feudalism and its institutions, including estates, provinces, duchies, baillies, and other obsolete organs of government.

Even before it directed its attention to the Church directly, the National Constituent Assembly attacked the institution of monasticism. On 13 February 1790. it issued a decree which stated that the government would no longer recognize solemn religious vows taken by either men or women. In consequence, Orders and Congregations which lived under a Rule were suppressed in France. Members of either sex were free to leave their monasteries or convents if they wished, and could claim an appropriate pension by applying to the local municipal authority.[29] These decrees applied to the five monasteries of men in the diocese of Saint-Malo: St.-Meen, Montfort, St. Jean des Prés, Beaulieu, and Painpont. [30] Also suppressed were the two monasteries of women.[31]

The Assembly ordered the replacement of political subdivisions of the ancien régime with subdeivisions called "departments", to be characterized by a single administrative city in the center of a compact area. The decree was passed on 22 December 1789, the boundaries fixed on 26 February 1790, with the institution to be effective on 4 March 1790.[32] Saint-Malo was assigned to the Departement d' Ille-et-Vilaine, with its administrative center at Rennes. The National Constituent Assembly then, on 6 February 1790, instructed its ecclesiastical committee to prepare a plan for the reorganization of the clergy. At the end of May, its work was presented as a draft Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which, after vigorous debate, was approved on 12 July 1790. There was to be one diocese in each department,[33] requiring the suppression of approximately fifty dioceses.[34] Saint-Malo was an obvious target, given the relatively small population. The suppression of dioceses by the state was uncanonical.[35]

In the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, the National Constituent Assembly also abolished cathedral chapters, canonicates, prebends, chapters and dignities of collegiate churches, chapters of both secular and regular clergy of both sexes, and abbeys and priories whether existing under a Rule or in commendam.[36]

Bishop Gabriel Cortois de Pressigny resigned as bishop of Saint-Malo in 1801, at the request of Pope Pius VII.

#### Suppression

[edit]

In 1801, when Pope Pius VII restored the hierarchy in France, the diocese of Saint-Malo was not restored.[37] Its territory was distributed among the dioceses of Rennes, Vannes, and Saint-Brieuc.[38]

## Bishops of Aleth

[edit]

P. B. Gams points out that all names before 817 are at least doubtful.[39]

* Aaron
* Suliac
* Saint Malo or Maclovius (487–565)[40]
* Gurval[41]
* Colfin oder Colaphin
* Armael oder Armel
* Enogat
* Maëlmon, ca. 650
* Godefroi or Geofroi c. 656
* Oedmal
* Hamon I.
* Noedi
* Ritwal
* Tutamen
* Ravili
* Bili I.
* Meen or Moene
* Ebon or Edon
* Guibon or Guibert
* Hamon II.
* Walter
* Cadocanan
* Rivallon I.
* Judicaël I.
* Réginald or Regimond
* Menfenic
* Budic or Benedikt
* Docmaël or Idomaël
* Johannes
* Walter
* Hélogard or Haelocar (811–816)[42]
* Ermorus or Ermor (833–834)[43]
* Iarnwaltus or Jarnuvalt (835–837)[44]
* Main, Maen or Mahen (840–846)[45]
* ? Salocon (c. 848)[46]
* Rethwalatrus or Retuvalart (857–867)[47]
* Ratvomo or Ratwili (867–872)[48]
* Bilius[49]
* Salvator (tenth century)
* Raoul (c. 990–1008)[50]

...

* Hamon (III) (c. 1028)[51]

Sede vacante in Aleth[52]

* Martin (c. 1054)[53]

...

* Renaud or Rainaud (c. 1062)

...

* Daniel (I) (c. 1085)[54]
* Benedict (II.) (c. 1092–1111)[55]
* Judicaël (II) (1089–1111)[56]
* Rivallon (II) (1112–1118)
* Daniel (II) (c. 1120)
* Donoald (1120–1143)[57]

## Bishops of Saint-Malo

[edit]

### 1146–1400

[edit]

* Jean de Châtillon (1146–1163)
* Albert or Aubert (1163–1184)
* Pierre Giraud or Géraud (1184–1218)[58]
* Radulfus (1219–1230)[59]
* Geoffroi de Pontual 1231–1255
* Nicolas de Flac (1254–1262)

[Phillipe de Bouchalampe, O.Cist. (1263)][60]

* Simon de Cliçon or Clisson (1264–1286)
* Robert du Pont (1287–1310)
* Raoul Rousselet (1310–1317)[61]
* Alain Gonthier (1318–1333)
* Yves le Prévôt de Bois Boëssel 1333–1348
* Guillaume Mahé (1348–1349)[62]
* Pierre Benoît or de Guémené 1349–1359
* Guillaume Poulart (1359–1374)
* Josselin de Rohan (1375–1389)[63]
* Robert de la Motte d'Acigné (1389–1423)[64]

### 1423–1827

[edit]

* Guillaume de Montfort (1423–1432)[65]
* Amaury de la Motte d'Acigné (1432–1434)[66]
* Pierre Piédru (1434–1449)[67]
* Jacques d'Espinay-Durestal (1450)
* Jean L'Espervier (1450–1486)
* Pierre de Montfort de Laval (1486–1493)[68]
* Guillaume Briçonnet 1493–1513
* Denis Briçonnet (1513–1535)[69]
* François Bohier (1535–1569)[70]
* Guillaume Ruzé (1570–1572)
* François Thomé (1573–1586)
* Charles de Bourgneuf (1586–1596)
* Jean du Bec (1598–1610)[71]
* Guillaume le Gouverneur (1610–1630)[72]

[Octavien de Marillac (1630)][73]

* Achille de Harlay de Sancy (1631–1644)[74]
* Ferdinand de Neufville (1644–1657)
* François de Villemontée (1658–1670)
* Sébastien de Guémadeuc (1671–1702)
* Vincent-François des Maretz (1702–1739)
* Jean-Joseph de Fogasses (1739–1767)[75]
* Antoine-Joseph des Laurents (1767–1785)[76]
* Gabriel Cortois de Pressigny (1785–1791)[77]

Siméon L'Archant de Grimouville (1817)[78]

## See also

[edit]

* Catholic Church in France
* List of Catholic dioceses in France

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Louis Gougaud, Les chrétientés celtiques, (in French), (Paris: J. Gabalda, 1911), pp. 121-123: "Le monastère est le berceau de l'évêché. Il n'y a pas de diocèses à territoires nettement délimités . L'évêque-abbé exerce sa juridiction sur l'abbaye-mère d'abord, puis sur ses autres monastères, enfin sur un certain nombre de plou, ou paroisses, situés dans le voisinage de ces établissements ou même enclavés dans une autre zone juridictionnelle."
2. ^ Gougaud, p. 122: "Dol, Alet, Tréguier sont considérés, dans les textes, jusqu'au XIe siècle , comme des monastères-évêchés. Le Pontificale Lanaletense (x1° siècle), par exemple, contient une formule d'excommunication à l'usage du Lan-Aletensis monasterii episcopus."
3. ^ Canon 9, in: C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 — A. 695. (in Latin), (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), p. 179: "Adicimus etiam, ne quis Brittanum aut Romanum in Armorico sine metropolis aut comprouincialium uoluntate uel Uteris episcopum ordinare praesumat. Quod si quis contraire temptauerit, sententiam in anterioribus canonibus prolatam obseruet et a nostra caritate usque ad maiorem synodum se cognoscat esse remotum...." Gougaud, p. 126
4. ^ Ferdinand Lot, "Nominoé, Erispoé, et l'Empereure Lothaire," (in French and Latin), in: Annales de Bretagne Vol. 22 (Paris: Champion 1907), pp. 239-246.
5. ^ Lot, p, 242: "Nominoé a prétendu, non se séparer du Regnum Francorum, mais se poser en partisan de Lothaire, c'est-à -dire de l'unité impériale."
6. ^ Gougaud, pp. 127-128
7. ^ Gougaud, p. 372.
8. ^ Aurélien de Courson, Cartulaire de L'Abbaye de Redon en Bretagne, (in French and Latin), (Paris: Imprimerie Impériale, 1863), p. 20, no XXIV. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 997.
9. ^ Cartulaire de Redon, p. 159, no CCIV: "Rethuualatro episcopo in Poutrocoet." Louis Duchesne, Les anciens catalogues épiscopaux de la province de Tours, (in French), (Paris: E. Thorin, 1890), p. 96, note 1.
10. ^ Gougaud, pp. 348-351
11. ^ Gallia christiana XIV, p. 998.
12. ^ J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, (in Latin), Vol. 19 (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 739.
13. ^ Tresvaux, p. 224-225.Mansi, pp. 679-680.
14. ^ Ferdinand Lot, Mélanges d'histoire bretonne (VIe-XIe siècle), (in French), (Paris: H. Champion, 1907), pp. 27-29.
15. ^ That is, Bishop of Saint-Malo de Beignon. Cartulaire de Redon, p. 383, no. LX. Gougaud, p. 122.
16. ^ Elise Whitlock Rose, Cathedrals and Cloisters of Northern France: French Flanders. Normandy. Brittany, Vol. 2 (NY-London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1914, pp. 194-196, 202-204.
17. ^ Tresvaux, p. 217.
18. ^ Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 271, note 1. Originally they were seventeen in number.
19. ^ Tresvaux, p. 217.
20. ^ Tresvaux, p. 231.
21. ^ Tresvaux, p. 231. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, (in Latin) Vol. 26 (Venice: A. Zatta 1784), p. 426.
22. ^ Tresvaux, p. 232.
23. ^ Tresvaux, p. 233.
24. ^ Tresvaux, p. 234.
25. ^ Jules Thomas, Le Concordat de 1516: Deuxième partie. Les documents concordataires, (in French and Latin), (Paris: A. Picard, 1910), pp. 60–65. The right had to be exercised by the king within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy of a benefice.
26. ^ Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 1018-1025.
27. ^ Tresvaux, pp. 218-219.
28. ^ Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 271, note 1.
29. ^ J. B. Duvergier, Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, règlemens avis du Conseil d'état, (in French), Volume 1 (Paris: A. Guyot et Scribe, 1834), p. 118: "La loi constitutionnelle du royaume ne reconnaitra plus de voeux monastiques solennels des personnes de l'un ni de l'autre sexe: en conséquence, les ordres et congrégations réguliers dans lesquels on fait de pareils voeux sont et demeureront supprimés en France, sans qu'il puisse en être établi de semblables à l'avenir." Michael Burleigh, Earthly Powers: The Clash of Religion and Politics in Europe, from the French Revolution to the Great War (New York: Harper Collins 2006), p. 54.
30. ^ Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 1018.
31. ^ Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 271, note 1.
32. ^ Pisani, pp. 10-11. Departement de Puy-de-Dôme, "Création du département"; retrieved 15 July 2024.
33. ^ "Civil Constitution," Title I, "Article 1. Chaque département formera un seul diocèse, et chaque diocèse aura la même étendue et les mêmes limites que le département."
34. ^ Ludovic Sciout, Histoire de la constitution civile du clergé (1790-1801): L'église et l'Assemblée constituante, (in French and Latin) ., Vol. 1 (Paris: Firmin Didot 1872), p. 182: Art. 2 "...Tous les autres évêchés existant dans les quatre-vingt-trois départements du royaume, et qui ne sont pas nommément compris au présent article, sont et demeurent supprimés."
35. ^ Pisani, pp. 10-12. Jean-de-Dieu-Raimond de Boisgelin de Cucé, Exposition des principes sur la Constitution civile du clergé, par les évêques députés á l'Assemblée nationale, (in French), (Paris: Chez Guerbaert, 1791), p. 11: "C'est une maxime incontestable, que toute jurisdiction ne peut cesser, que par la puissance qui la donne. C'est de l'église seule, que les évêques tiennent leur jurisdiction; c'est l'église seule, qui peut les en priver."
36. ^ J. B. Duvergier, Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, règlemens avis du Conseil d'état, (in French), Volume 1 (Paris: A. Guyot et Scribe, 1834), p. 244: "20. Tous titres et offices , autres que ceux mentionnés en la présente constitution , les dignités , canonicats, prébendes, demi-prébendes, chapelles, chapellenies, tant des églises cathédrales que des églises collégiales, et tous chapitres réguliers et séculiers de l'un et de l'autre sexe, les abbayes et prieurés en règle ou en commende, aussi de l'un et de l'autre sexe, et tous autres bénéfices et prestimonies généralement quelconques , de quelque nature et sous quelque dénomination que ce soit, sont, à compter du jour de la publication du présent décret, éteints et supprimés, sans qu'il puisse jamais en être établi de semblables."
37. ^ J.B. Duvergier (ed.), Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, réglemens et avis du Conseil d'état, (in French and Latin), Volume 13 (Paris: A. Guyot et Scribe, 1826), pp. 372; 382.
38. ^ Tresvaux, p. 217.
39. ^ Gams, p. 618, col. 1: "omnes admodum dubii ante 817."
40. ^ Maclovius: Louis Duchesne, "La vie de Saint Malo: étude critique," (in French), in: Etudes celtiques Vol. 11 (Paris: E. Bouillon 1890), pp. 1-22.
41. ^ Gurval: John O'Hanlon, Lives of the Irish saints, Volume 6 (Dublin: J. Duffy 1873), pp. 217-220.
42. ^ Bishop Helogar, Alethensis episcopus, was a great help to Charlemagne during the Breton revolt of 811, as a charter of Louis the Pious indicates: Ferdinand Lot, Mélanges d'histoire bretonne (VIe-XIe siècle), (Paris: Champion 1907), p. 28, note 2. Duchesne, p. 383, no. 1.
43. ^ Ermor: Duchesne, p. 384, no. 2.
44. ^ Iarnwalt: Duchesne, p. 384, no. 3.
45. ^ Mahen: Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 997. Duchesne, p. 384, no. 4.
46. ^ Saloco was deposed, and retreated to Autun, where he became an auxiliary bishop for Bishop Jonas. Duchesne, p. 384, no. 5. He is rejected by Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 997, "Post Maenum Salaconem quidam ponunt. Is autem Dolensis erat episcopus."
47. ^ Rethwalatr: Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 997. Duchesne, p. 384, no. 6.
48. ^ Ratuili, Rethwalatrus: Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 997. Duchesne, p. 384-385, no. 7.
49. ^ Bilius, it is claimed, had been Bishop Ratuili's deacon, and was the author of the "Life of St. Malo." Haureau remarks doubtfully, "A Ratuilo ad Salvatorem plurium epiuscoporum nomina desunt. Bilius quiden a nonnullis post Ratuilum collocatur. Is vero Venetensis sub idem tempus praesul erat." Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 998. Duchesne, p. 385, no. 8.
50. ^ Reginaldus: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 999. Tresvaux, p. 224.
51. ^ Bishop Hamon is attested in a document dated 1032. In 1049, he was deposed by order of Pope Leo IX. He died in 1058. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 998.
52. ^ Due to excommunications by Pope Leo IX in 1050. Tresvaux, p. 225.
53. ^ Bishop Martin assisted the archbishop of Tours in the consecration of the monastery of Cormeri in 1054. It is said that he attended the Council of Chalon-sur-Saône in 1056; the proceedings list three bishops named Martin: Martinus Dialetum, Martinus Cenomannicorum, and Martinus Auximorum. Mansi XIX, p. 844. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 999. Tresvaux, p. 224.
54. ^ Daniel died in 1285. Tresvaux, p. 224.
55. ^ Benedict is called both Bishop of Aleth and Bishop of Saint-Malo. He was in competition with Judicaël for the diocese. Tresvaux, p. 224. Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 999-1000.
56. ^ Judicaël was the brother of Archbishop Geoffroy of Rouen. Tresvaux, p. 224. Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 999-1000.
57. ^ Donoald: Tresvaux, pp. 226-227.
58. ^ Peter was elected bishop on the Tuesday before Easter 1184. Hauréau, Gallia Christiana IV, pp. 1003-1004. Bishop Pierre died on 10 September 1218. Gams, p. 618, col. 2. Eubel I, p. 319.
59. ^ Bishop Radulfus died on 8 October 1230. Gams, p. 618, col. 2. Eubel I, p. 319.
60. ^ Philippe was abbot of Clairvaux. He was one of two candidates chosen in a contested election. The matter was submitted to Pope Urban IV, who, on 18 October 1263, chose Philippe. Philippe vigorously protested that he did not want to be bishop, and went to Rome personally to convince the pope. Tresvaux, p. 230.
61. ^ Bishop Robert du Pont resigned his bishopric into the hands of Cardinal Bertrand de Bord, who appointed Radulfus Rousselet, a secular cleric of King Philip IV of France. The appointment was approved by Pope Clement V on 9 February 1311. The bull carried a dispensation from the rule that a bishop of Saint-Malo had to be a regular or a professed member of a religious Order. He was transferred to the diocese of Pamplona (Navarre) by Pope John XXII on 2 March 1317, and then on 18 June 1317 to Laon (France). He died on 16 October 1323. Eubel I, pp. 296, 319, 387.
62. ^ Guillaume had been a canon of the cathedral of Saint-Malo. He was elected, and appointed by Pope Clement VI on 27 October 1348. He died on 30 March 1349. Eubel I, p. 319.
63. ^ Jocelyn had been Prior of the abbey of S. Jacobus de Monte Forte. Hauréau, Gallia Christiana IV, pp. 1024-1025. He was elected bishop on 7 June 1375, and made his submission to the pope on 7 July. He refused, however, to take the oath of fealty to the Duke of Brittany, on the grounds that he was a vassal of the pope. His temporalities were confiscated. He died on 21 March 1389. Tresvaux, p. 232. Eubel I, p. 319 with note 6.
64. ^ Robert de la Motte was appointed bishop of Saint-Malo by Pope Clement VII on 8 November 1389. He died on 5 August 1423. Tresvaux, p. 232. Hauréau, Gallia Christiana IV, p. 1009. Eubel I, p. 319.
65. ^ Guillaume was appointed on 13 October 1423 by Pope Martin V. In 1424, Pope Martin wanted to transfer him to Saint-Brieuc, but the transfer never took place; on 5 May 1430 he wanted to transfer him to Dol, but Guillaume refused the offer. He was named a cardinal by Pope Martin in the consistory of 8 November 1430; his name was made public in 1432 by Eugenius IV. He died in Siena on 27 September 1432. Trevaux, p. 232 (with errors). Eubel I, p. 319 with note 7; II, pp. 7, no. 47; 182.
66. ^ After the death of Cardinal de Montfort, the Chapter of Saint-Malo elected Abbot Guillaume Boutier of Beaulieu, a friend and councillor of John V, Duke of Brittany. But Pope Eugenius refused to approve the choice, and instead, on 24 October 1432, transerred Bishop Amaury from his seat in Vannes. Bishop Amaury died on 5 August 1434. Trevaux, p. 233. Eubel II, p. 319.
67. ^ Pierre held a licenciate in Canon Law, and had been a canon of Nantes. He was bishop of Tréguier from 1430 to 1434. He was transferred to Saint-Malo by Pope Eugenius IV on 25 August 1434. He died on 24 November 1449. Trevaux, p. 233. Eubel I, p. 494; II, p. 319.
68. ^ Pierre de Montfort de Laval was the son of Count Guy (XIV) de Laval and Isabeau de Bretagne. He was Bishop of Saint-Brieuc (1472–1493), and held the diocese of Saint-Malo in commendam. He was transferred to the archdiocese of Reims, retaining his two previous dioceses. He was compelled to flee his dioceses during the so-called "Mad War" (1488–1491), the revolt against King Charles VIII of France by the dukes of Orléans and Brittany. He died in Angers on 14 August 1493. Trevaux, p. 234-235. Eubel II, p. 183.
69. ^ Denis Briçonnet, the son of Guillaume Briçonnet by legitimate marriage, had been a canon of Paris, and was then Bishop of Toulon (1497–1514), at the age of 18. He was made a canon of Saint-Malo on 1 November 1502. He was deprived of Toulon by Pope Julius II, on 13 February 1512, but restored by Pope Leo X. He was transferred to the diocese of Saint-Malo by Pope Leo X on 18 August 1514. He died in 1535. Trevaux, p. 236. Eubel II, p. 252; III, p. 231.
70. ^ Bohier, the nephew of his predecessor Denis Briçonnet, held a licenciate in Civil and Canon Law. His brother Gilles was bishop of Agde. He had been Dean of the cathedral of Tours, and Provost of Normandie in the diocese of Chartres. He was named coadjutor bishop of Saint-Malo on 6 August 1534. He died in Paris in September 1569. Trevaux, p. 237. Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 1012-1013. Eubel III, p. 231 with note 4.
71. ^ Jean du Bec: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 227 with note 3.
72. ^ Guillaume died on 25 June 1630. Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 1014.
73. ^ De Marillac, a Capuchin with the name Michel de Paris in his Order, was nominated by King Louis XIII, apparently at the suggestion of Father Joseph du Tremblay. He refused the promotion, but the see of Saint-Malo remained vacant until after his death, in the Capuchin convent in Paris on 31 July 1631. Trevaux, p. 239-240. Hauréau, Gallia christiana XIV, p. 1014
74. ^ Harlay was the son of Nicolas de Harlay, superintendent of finances. He held the degree of Doctor of Canon Law. King Henry IV of France offered him the bishopric of Lavaur, but Harlay refused. He was sent as French ambassador to Constantinople, where he resided for ten years. On his return to Paris, he entered the Congregation of the Oratory. He was sent by the king as ambaddador to Savoy, and then to England, in June 1625, where he was confessor to Queen Hortense. On 30 November 1629, at the election of a superior general of the Oratory, Harlay refused his candidature. On 16 August 1631, King Louis XIII named him bishop of Saint-Malo; he was confirmed in the consistory of 10 November 1631, by Pope Urban VIII. He died at Saint-Malo on 20 November 1644. Trevaux, p. 240-242. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 227 with note 5.
75. ^ Fogasses: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 271 with note 2.
76. ^ Laurents: Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 271 with note 3.
77. ^ Pressigny was a native of Dijon, and nephew of Bishop Gabriel Cortois de Belley; his elder brother was bishop of Nantes. He was nominated bishop of Saint-Malo by King Louis XVI on 6 November 1785, approved by Pope Pius VI on 19 December 1785, and consecrated a bishop on 15 January 1786. He fled Saint-Malo in 1791, to Quincey, Cambrai, Constance (Switzerland), and Landhut (Bavaria). He returned to France at the end of 1800, and officially resigned, at the request of Pope Pius VII in 1801. He was an ambassador of King Louis XVIII to the pope from 1814 to 1816, negotiating the concordat that was signed in 1817, and was made a count and peer of France. He became Bishop of Besançon in 1817. He died in Paris on 2 May 1823. Tablettes du clergé et des amis de la religion, (in French), Volume 3 (Paris: Rivals et Demonville, 1823), pp. 393-394. "Notice sur M. l'archevêque de Besançon", in: Le conservateur Belge, (in French), Volume 1 (Liége: Duvivier, 1823), pp. 105-107. Ritzler & Sefrin VI, p. 271 with note 4.
78. ^ L'Archant de Grimouville was a canon of Lisieux. He fled France during the Terror for the island of Jersey. He was appointed bishop of Saint-Malo by King Louis XVIII after the Concordat of 1817 was agreed on with Pope Pius VII, but the French parliament refused to ratify it, and therefore the Concordat of 1801 was still the law of France. L'Archant de Grimouville was never consecrated. He died in 1821. Amédée Guillotin de Corson, Pouillé historique de l'archevêché de Rennes, (in French), Volume 1 (Rennes-Paris: Fougeray, 1880), pp. 609-610. Trevaux, p. 253

## Sources

[edit]

* Duchesne, Louis Fastes épiscopaux de l'ancienne Gaule: Vol. II: L'Aquitaine et les Lyonnaises. (in French). deuxième edition. Paris: Thorin & fils, 1899
* Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. pp. 548–549. (Use with caution; obsolete)
* Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 301.
* Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 175.
* Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
* Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. p. 219.
* Hauréau, Bartholomaeus (1856). Gallia Christiana: in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. (in Latin). Volume 14 Paris: Didot, 1856. pp. 993-1037; "instrumenta," pp. 233-244.
* Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol. V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio.
* Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi (in Latin). Vol. VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. pp. 271–272.
* Jean, Armand (1891). Les évêques et les archevêques de France depuis 1682 jusqu'à 1801 (in French). Paris: A. Picard.
* Pisani, Paul (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils.
* Tresvaux, François Marie (1839). L' église de Bretagne ou histoire des siéges épiscopaux, séminaires et collégiales, abbayes et autres communautés de cette province: d'après les matériaux de Dom Hyacinthe Morice de Beaubois. (in French). Paris: Mequignon, 1839.

48°39′N 2°02′W﻿ / ﻿48.65°N 2.03°W﻿ / 48.65; -2.03

Portals:

* Catholicism
* France

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[c.]: circa