Roman Catholic Diocese of Coutances
The Diocese of Coutances (–Avranches) (Latin: Dioecesis Constantiensis (–Abrincensis); French: Diocèse de Coutances (–Avranches)) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Coutance in the commune of Coutances in France. The diocese is suffragan of the Archbishop of Rouen and comprises the entire department of Manche. It was enlarged in 1802 by the addition of the former Diocese of Avranches and of two archdeaconries from the Diocese of Bayeux. Since 1854 its bishops have held the title of Bishop of Coutances (–Avranches).
Diocese of Coutances (–Avranches) Dioecesis Constantiensis (–Abrincensis) Diocèse de Coutances (–Avranches) | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | France |
Ecclesiastical province | Rouen |
Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Rouen |
Statistics | |
Area | 5,991 km2 (2,313 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2013) 506,300 412,400 (81.5%) |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 5th Century (As Diocese of Coutances) 12 July 1854 (As Diocese of Coutances-Avranches) |
Cathedral | Coutances Cathedral |
Patron saint | Blessed Virgin Mary St. Laud of Coutances |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop elect | Grégoire Cador |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Jean-Charles Marie Descubes |
Bishops emeritus | Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey Bishop Emeritus (1989-2006) |
Map | |
Website | |
coutances.catholique.fr |
The Bishop of Coutances exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Channel Islands, mostly in Alderney where the Bishop also held partial authority over the Leader of Alderney, until the Reformation, despite the secular division of Normandy in 1204. The final rupture occurred definitively in 1569 when Queen Elizabeth I demanded that the Bishops hand the island over to the Bishop of Winchester.[1]
History of the Diocese of Coutances
In 1757 the city of Coutances had a population of about 12,000 Catholics. The Cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its Chapter was composed of eight dignities (the Cantor, four Archdeacons, the Scholasticus, the Treasurer, and the Penitentiary) and twenty-five Canons. There were also six Choral Vicars, forty-two chaplains, fourteen choristers and six boy singers, and a body of musicians. The Cantor has existed from the 11th century. The four archdeacons were: Coutances, Baptois, Val-de-Vire and Cotentin.[2] In the city were two parishes (Saint-Pierre and Saint-Nicolas), two houses of male religious, and two monasteries of monks. The entire diocese had some 500 parishes.[3]
The diocese contained seven houses of Benedictine monks: Saint-Sever, Lessay, Saint-Sauveur le Vicomte, Montebourg, Hambie, Notre-Dame de Protection (Valognes, 1626, women), and Notre-Dame des Anges (Coutances, 1633, women). There was a house of Premonstratensians at Blanchelande; and two houses of Augustinians, at Saint-Lô and Notre-Dame de Voeu at Cherbourg.[4] All were abolished by will of the Constituent Assembly in 1790, and their properties confiscated and sold. Monastic vows were dissolved and forbidden. On 12 April 1791 the priests of the seminary were expelled for refusing to take the Oath to the Constitution. On 15 January 1793 the turn came of the houses of women to be closed and confiscated, and their inhabitants forcibly ejected.[5]
History of the Diocese of Avranches
The Cathedral of Avranches, situated in a town of some 2500 inhabitants in 1764, was dedicated to Saint Andrew on 17 September 1211. The Chapter of the Cathedral had six dignities (the Dean, the Cantor, the Treasurer, the Scholasticus and the two Archdeacons) and eighteen Canons. The archdeacons were named Archidiaconus Abricensis and Archidiaconus Vallis Moretonii.[6] The town contained three parishes, one community of male religious and one monastery of monks. The entire diocese contained 170 parishes.[7]
The Diocese of Avranches was abolished during the French Revolution by the Legislative Assembly, under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790).[8] Its territory was subsumed into the new diocese, called 'Manche', with its seat at Coutances, which was part of the Metropolitanate called the 'Côtes de la Manche' (which included eight new 'départements'), with its seat at Rouen (Seine-Inférieure). When the Concordat of 1801 was struck between Pope Pius VII and First Consul Bonaparte, the Diocese of Avranches was not revived.
List of bishops
to 1050
- Ereptiolus,[9] c. 430–473
- Exuperus (or Exuperatus), c. 473–500[10]
- Leontianus, c.500–512[11]
- Possessor, c. 512–523[12]
- Lauto (Saint-Lô), c. 525–565[13]
- Romacharius (Rumpharius), c. 566–600 ?[14]
- Saint Ursinus[15]
- Ulfobertus, c. 600–610
- Lupicinus, c. 610–640
- Nepus
- Chairibonus, attested 650[16]
- Waldomar (or Baldomer), c. 650–660
- Hulderic, c. 660–674
- Frodemundus, 677–690[17]
- Wilbert[18] (or Aldebert)
- Agathius
- Livin
- Wilfrid
- Joshua
- Leon
- Angulon
- Hubert
- Willard, c. 820– c. 840[19]
- Herluin, c. 840–862[20]
- Sigenand (or Seginand), c. 862–880[21]
- Lista (or Listus), c. 880–888/90[22]
- Raguenard, c. 898–???
- Herlebaud (or Erleboldus)[23]
- Agebert
- Bishops in exile at Rouen
- Theodoric (Thierry), c. 911[24]
- Herbert I
- Algerund (Algeronde)
- Gilbert (Gillebert)
- Hugues I (Hugh), c. 989–1025[25]
- Bishops in Saint–Lô
- Herbert II, c. 1025–1026, left Rouen and installed himself at Saint–Lô[26]
- Robert I, c. 1026–1048, also bishop of Lisieux
from 1050 to 1400
- Geoffrey de Montbray, 1049–1093[27]
- Raoul, 1093–1110
- Roger, c. 1114–1123
- Richard de Brix (alias de Bruce), 1124–1131
- Algare (Algarus, Algardus or Algarius), 1132–1151, previously prior of Bodmin
- Richard de Bohon, 1151–1179
- Guillaume de Tournebu, 1184–1202
- Vivien de L'Étang (de L'Estang), 1202–1208
- Hugues de Morville,[28] 1208–1238, principal restorer of the cathedral
- Gilles de Caen (or Gilon), 1246–1248
- Jean d'Essay, 1251–1274[29]
- Eustache, O.Min., 1282–1291[30]
- Robert de Harcourt,[31] 1291–1315
- Guillaume de Thieuville,[32] 1315–1345
- Louis Herpin d'Erquery,[33] 1346–1370
- Sylvestre de La Cervelle,[34] 1371–1386
- Nicolas de Tholon (Toulon), 1386–1387[35] (Avignon Obedience)
- Guillaume de Crèvecoeur,[36] 1387–1408
from 1400 to 1600
- Aegidius (Gilles des Champs),[37] 1408–1413 (Appointed by Alexander V)
- Jean de Marle, 1414–1418[38]
- Pandolfo Malatesta,[39] 1418–1424, present at the Council of Constance
- Philibert de Montjeu,[40] 1424–1439, present at the Council of Basel
- Gilles de Duremort, O.Cist.[41] 1439–1444, judge in the trial of Joan of Arc
- Giovanni Castiglione,[42] 1444–1453
- Richard Olivier de Longueil,[43] 1453–1470, made a cardinal in 1456.
- Benoît de Montferrand, 1470–1476[44]
- Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, 1476–1477,[45] non-resident, became Pope in 1503.
- Galeazzo della Rovere, 1477–1478, non-resident, became bishop of Agen
- Geoffroy Herbert, 1478–1510[46]
- Adrien Gouffier de Boissy, 1510–1519, cardinal[47]
- Bernard Dovizi da Bibbiena, 1519–1520, Administrator[48]
- René de Bresche de La Trémoïlle,[49] 1519–1529, abbot of Flavigny
- Philippe de Cossé–Brissac,[50] 1530–1548, non-resident
- Payen Le Sueur d'Esquetot,[51] 1549–1551
- Étienne Martel de Bacqueville,[52] 1552–1560
- Arthur de Cossé–Brissac,[53] 1560–1587
- Lancelot Goyon de Matignon,[54] 1587–1588, died just ten days after his nomination.
from 1600 to 1854
- Nicolas de Briroy,[55] 1589–1620, consecrated in 1597
- Guillaume Le Blanc, 1621, died before his consecration
- Jacques de Carbonnel, 1621, never consecrated
- Nicolas Bourgoin,[56] 1622–1625
- Léonor I Goyon de Matignon,[57] 1627–1646, became bishop of Lisieux
- Claude Auvry,[58] 1646–1658
- Eustache Le Clerc de Lesseville,[59] 1658–1665
- Charles–François de Loménie de Brienne,[60] 1666–1720
- Léonor II Goyon de Matignon,[61] 1721–1757
- Jacques Le Febvre du Quesnoy,[62] 1757–1764
- Ange–François de Talaru de Chalmazel, 1764–1798[63]
- François Bécherel, 1791–1801 (Constitutional Bishop of Manche)[64]
- Claude-Louis Rousseau[65] 14 Apr 1802 – 3 Aug 1807
- Pierre Dupont de Poursat[66] 3 Aug 1807 – 17 Sep 1835.
- Louis-Jean-Julien Robiou de la Tréhonnais[67] 1 Feb 1836 – 7 Dec 1852
Bishops of Avranches
- Nepos,[68] (attested 511)
- Severus[69] c. 520
- Perpetuus[70] 533–541
- Egidius[71] 549–550
- Paternus,[72] (died 565)
- Senator (Saint Sénier),[73] 563
- Saint Leudeuald, Leodovaldus[74] c. 580
- Hildoaldus[75] c. 614– after 627
- Saint Rahentrannus, Ragertran, Ragertrannus[76] (after 681 or 683)
- Aubertus,[77] c. 708
- Jean I c. 840[78]
- Ansegardus[79] c. 847–c. 853
- Remedius[80] 855
- Walbert[81] c. 859–c. 862
- Norgod (Norgaud) c. 990–c. 1017 or 1018
- Maugis (Maingise) 1022–c. 1026
- Hugo 1028–c. 1060
- Jean d'Ivry (or de Bayeux) 1060–1067, in 1068 Archbishop of Rouen, son of Rodulf of Ivry[82]
- Michael I 1068–1094
- Turgis (Turgise) 1094–1134
- Richard de Beaufou 1134–1142
- Richard de Subligny 1142–1153
- Herbert II 1154–1161[83]
- Achard of St. Victor 1162–1171
- Richard III 1171–1182
- Guillaume I Bureau 1182–c. 1195
- Guillaume II de Chemillé 1196–1198
- Guillaume III Tollerment 1199–1210
- Guillaume IV Bureau 1210–1236
- Guillaume V de Saint-Mère-Eglise 1236–1253
- Richard IV L`Ainé 1253–1257
- Guillaume VI 1257–1258
- Richard V L`Anglois 1259–1269
- Raoul de Thiéville 1269–1292
- Geoffroi Boucher 1293–1306
- Nicolas de Luzarches 1307–1311
- Michel II de Pontorson 1311–1312
- Jean III de La Mouche 1312–1327
- Jean IV de Vienne 1328–1331
- Jean V Hautfune 1331–1358
- Foulque Bardoul 1358–1359
- Robert I de La Porte 1359–1379
- Laurent de Faye[84] 1379–1391 (Avignon Obedience)
- Jean VI de Saint-Avit[85] 1391–1442 (Avignon Obedience)
- Martin Pinard 1442–1458
- Jean VII Bouchard 1458–1484
- Louis de Bourbon-Vendôme 1484–1510
- Louis Herbert 1511–1526
- Agostino Trivulzio 1526 (administrator)
- Jean VIII de Langeac 1526–1532
- Robert Ceneau (Robert Cénalis) 1532–1560 (also Bishop of Vence and Bishop of Riez)
- Antoine Le Cirier 1561–1575
- Augustin Le Cirier 1575–1580
- Georges de Péricard 1583–1587
- François de Péricard[86] 1588–1639
- Charles Vialart de Saint-Paul[87] 1640–1644
- Roger D'Aumont[88] 1645–1651
- Gabriel Boislève[89] 1652–1657
- Gabriel-Philippe de Froulay de Tessé[90] 1668–1689
- Pierre Daniel Huet[92] 1689–1699
- Roland-François de Kerhoen de Coettenfau[93] 1709–1719
- César Le Blanc, O.C.S.A.[94] 1719–1746
- Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Durand de Missy[95] 1746–1764
- Raimond de Durfort[96] 1764–1766
- Joseph-François de Malide[97] 1766–1774
- Pierre-Augustin Godard de Belbeuf[98] 1774–1790
Bishops of Coutances and Avranches
- Jacques-Louis Daniel,[99] 1854–1862
- Jean-Pierre Bravard,[100] 1862–1875
- Abel-Anastase Germain,[101] 1876–1897
- Joseph Guérard,[102] 1899–1924
- Théophile-Marie Louvard,[103] 1924–1950
- Jean Guyot,[104] 1950–1966.
- Joseph Wicquart, 1966–1988
- Jacques Fihey, 1989–2006
- Stanislas Lalanne, 2007–2012[105]
- Laurent Le Boulc'h (2013[106] – 2023)[107]
- Grégoire Cador (2023[108]
Notes
- Arthur John Eagleston (1949). "Chapter VI The Channel Islands and the Diocese of Coutances". The Channel Islands Under Tudor Government, 1485-1642: A Study. Published for the Guernsey Society at the University Press. pp. 49 ff.
- Pouillés (surveys of benefices) of the diocese of Coutances, in: Auguste Longnon (1903). Pouillés de la province de Rouen (in French and Latin). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. pp. 269–384, at 269–270 and 382–384. ISBN 9782877546041.
- Gallia christiana XI, p. 863, 908. Lecanu, II, pp. 95-114. Ritzler, VI, p. 179 note 1.
- Gallia christiana XI, p. 912-913. Jean, p. 352.
- Lecanu, II, p. 106.
- Pouillés of the diocese of Avranches: Auguste Longnon (1903). Pouillés de la province de Rouen (in French and Latin). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. pp. 141–178, at 160. ISBN 9782877546041.
- Gallia christiana XI, pp. 466-467. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 note 1. In the nineteenth century the diocese of Avranches had 177 parishes and was the smallest diocese in the Province of Rouen: Jean, p. 343.
- Ludovic Sciout (1872). "Chapitre IV: La Constitution Civile". Historie de la constitution civile du clergé (1790-1801) (in French). Vol. Tome premier. Paris: Firmin Didot frères.
- Duchesne, pp. 237-238.
- Gams, p. 542.
- Leontianus attended the Council of Orléans in 511. C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), pp. 14, 15, 19 (ex Briovere Leontianus). Duchesne, p. 239 no. 1.
- Possessor: Duchesne, p. 239 no. 2.
- Lauto was present at the councils of Orléans in 533, 538 and 549. De Clercq, pp. 103, 127, 159 (Lauto episcopus ecclesiae Constantine vel Briouerensis). Gams, p. 542. Duchesne, p. 239 no. 3.
- Romacharius took part in the dedication of the church of Nantes before 573. He is mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus. Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum VIII, 31, notes that he was present at the funeral of his Metropolitan Praetextatus of Rouen in 586. Gams, p. 542. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 4.
- Ursinus possibly however bishop of Constance; the town of Saint-Ursin in Saint-Jean-des-Champs is perhaps named after him. Gams, p. 542.
- Chairibonus attended the Council of Châlon-sur-Saône in 650. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 4. De Clercq, p. 309.
- Frodemundus (Frémond) founded a monastery at Le Ham on 15 August 679; the dedicatory inscription survives. Lecanu, I, pp. 83-86. Duchesne, p. 240, no. 6.
- Willebertus is said to have been present at a Council of Rouen in 693. Gallia christiana XI, p. 866. Absent from Mansi and De Clercq.
- Widlardus is mentioned in documents of 829 and 835. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 7.
- Herluinus is mentioned in documents between 843 and 862. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 8.
- Siginandus was present at the Council of Soissons in 866, and at the Council of Ponthion in 876. Duchesne, p. 240 no. 9.
- Bishop Lista was killed at St.-Lô during a siege by the Northmen, after they had sacked Paris and the valley of the Seine, according to the narrative of Abbot Regino of Prüm in his Chronicon, pp. 134-135. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 867-868
- Herlebaldus is mentioned in a charter of Charles the Simple on 22 February 906. Duchesne, p. 241 no. 12.
- Bishop Theoderic was forced into exile at Rouen by the Vikings in 911, according to the Black Book of the Chapter of Coutances. Gallia christiana XI, p. 868; Instrumenta no. 1, pp. 217-224, at p. 217.
- Bishop Hugues was present at the dedication of the Abbey of Fécamp in 990. He subscribed a charter for Duke Richard II of Normandy in 1020. Gallia christiana XI, p. 869.
- Herbert was transferred to Lisieux in his second year as Bishop of Coutances. Gallia christiana XI, p. 869.
- Bishop Geoffrey was consecrated at Rouen on 10 April 1048. He left Saint–Lô and returned the seat of the diocese to Coutances. The new cathedral was consecrated on 8 December 1056. He was justiciar for William the Conqueror. He died at Coutances on 3 February 1093. Christopher Dennis (2012). The Career of Geoffrey de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances (1048-1093) and Unus de Primatibus Anglorum ('one of the Chief Men of the English'). Cardiff University. Leslie Stephen, ed. (1890). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. XXI. Garnett-Gloucester. London: Smith Elder. pp. 130–132.
- Hugues had been Archdeacon of Coutances before being elected Bishop. He was consecrated at Rouen by Archbishop Robert Poulain (Pullus). Philippe III granted him the patronage of the churches of Cherbourg and Tourlaville in 1208. Toustain de Billy, I, pp. 310-386.
- Jean d'Essay died on 31 October 1274. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 1-53. Eubel, I, p. 205.
- Eustache was provided by the Pope in 1282. He died on 7 August 1291. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 54-75. Eubel, I, p. 205.
- Robert d'Harcourt was elected bishop in 1291. He founded the Collège d'Harcourt at Paris. He died on 7 March 1315. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 76-114. Eubel, I, p. 205.
- Guillaume de Thieville was the last bishop of Coutances to be elected by the Cathedral Chapter. Thereafter bishops were chosen by agreement between the King of France and the Pope. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 115-149.
- Louis Herpin was the first bishop known to have appointed a suffragan, one Bishop Jean. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 150-162.
- A rare reformer, Bishop Sylvestre held synods in 1372, 1375 and 1377 to reform the clergy. Hayden, The Catholicisms of Coutances ch. 3. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 163-172.
- Nicolas de Tholon, probably a Burgundian from Toulon-sur-l'Allier and not from Toulon in the Dauphiné, was a Doctor of law. He was a chaplain of the Cathedral of Autun (1362), then Canon (1365) and Praecentor of Autun. He was Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy for Philippe le Hardi, who was then a regent of Charles V. He was appointed to the diocese of Coutances by Pope Clement VII on 5 October 1386. He was transferred to the diocese of Autun on 26 August 1387. He died on 20 December 1400. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 173-174. Eubel, I, pp. 73, 205.
- Guillaume de Crevecoeur was non-resident, almoner of Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy. He was appointed by Clement VII on 27 August 1387. He died on 10 April 1408. Toustain de Billy. II, pp. 175-188. Eubel, I, 205.
- Aegidius was a native of Rouen, the son of Robert de Champs, Seigneur de Tourville, First-Captain of Rouen. Gilles was Master of theology and a Canon of Rouen (1380), as well as Theologian and Confessor of King Charles VI (1404), who later appointed him one of his Aumoniers. He was ambassador of Charles VI to the Council of Pisa, which opened in March 1409. He was appointed Bishop of Coutances on 2 October 1409 by the Pisan pope Alexander V. He was made a cardinal by John XXIII on 6 June 1411, though he never appeared in the Papal Court to be invested and to receive a titular church. He continued as Administrator of Coutances until his death. He died on 5 (or 15) March 1413. Toustain de Billy, pp. 189-201. Eubel, I, pp. 33, no. 11; 205.
- Jean de Marle was the son of Henri de Marle, First President of the Parlement of Paris. Jean was a Master of arts, Licenciate in Canon Law, Protonotary Apostolic, and Canon of Bayeux. He was appointed Bishop of Coutances by John XXIII on 2 April 1414, and had the misfortune to be Bishop during the English invasion of Normandy, leading to the Battle of Agincourt. He died on 12 June 1418. Toustain de Billy, pp. 202-206. Eubel, I, p. 205.
- Pandolfo Malatesta of Rimini, the son of Carlo Malatesta, the plenipotentiary of Gregory XII (Roman Obedience), was Canon and Archdeacon of Bologna, as well as a Protonotary Apostolic. He participated in the Council of Constance, and was one of the delegates chosen by the Italian nation to participate in the election of a new pope to replace the three excommunicated pretenders. He was appointed Bishop of Coutances by Pope Martin V on 7 October 1418, and consecrated by him personally. He was transferred to Patras (Greece) on 10 May 1424. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 890-891. Lecanu, pp. 237-238. Toustain de Billy, pp. 207-212. Eubel, I, pp. 205 and 394.
- Montjeu: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 891-892. Lecanu, I, pp. 241-248.
- Gilles was a native of Rouen, and a Doctor of theology of the Sorbonne. He held the abbeys of Beaupré, Beaubec, and then Fécamp. His bulls for the diocese of Coutances were issued on 9 October 1439, and he was consecrated a bishop on 28 July 1440, on which day he took his oath to the Archbishop of Rouen, Louis de Luxembourg, as his Metropolitan. He was one of the three judges who condemned Jeanne d'Arc to death by fire. He preferred to reside in the Priory of Saint-Lout in Rouen, where he died on 29 July 1444; he was buried in Rouen. Gallia christiana XI, p. 892. Lecanu, pp. 249-250. Eubel, II, p.
- Castiglione was born of a noble family of Milan, a nephew of Cardinal Branda Castiglione (who had held the diocese of Lisieux, 1420-1424) and a member of the same family as Pope Celestine IV. He became a Protonotary Apostolic, and was preferred to the Diocese of Coutances on 2 September 1444 by Pope Eugenius IV, who had the right of reversion. He was sent as an envoy to the Pope by King Henry VI of England in 1447 to complain about grants in commendam and benefices. He was captured by the French at Coutances, and swore allegiance to Charles VII on 3 November 1449, in whose solemn entry into Rouen he participated. Castiglione was transferred to the diocese of Pavia on 3 October 1453; he was created a cardinal on 17 December 1456. He died at Macerata on 14 April 1460. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 892-893. Lecanu, pp. 250-252. Eubel, II, pp. 12 no. 6; 134; 212.
- Longueil was created a cardinal by Pope Calixtus III on 17 December 1456. He finally made his formal entry into Rome on 13 March 1462 wearing his red hat. On 16 March he was received by Pope Pius II and named Cardinal Priest of S. Eusebius. On 1 October 1464 Pope Paul II appointed Longueil his Apostolic Legate in Perugia. He was back in Rome from 9 April to 18 May 1465, before returning to Perugia. He returned to Rome from his Legation in Perugia on 10 February 1466. He died at Sutri, where he had gone propter aeris intemperiem (because of the heat), on 15 August 1470. Lecanu, I, pp. 252-258. Eubel, II, pp. 12; 34-37, nos. 253, 259, 265, 298.
- A Savoyard, Montferrand was abbot of Saint–Antoine de Vienne, by gift of Pope Pius II. He was preferred as Bishop of Coutances by Pope Paul II on 8 August 1470, but he did not have the approval of the King of France or the Chapter of Coutances. The Chapter recorded repeatedly in its records in 1471 and 1472 that the See was vacant. The King, in fact, assigned the temporalia of the diocese to the Bishop of Laon in 1472, thereby depriving Benedictus of any income or civil jurisdiction. Benoît was absent from Coutances from August 1474 until 1476, when, as Bishop-elect, he exchanged the diocese of Coutances for that of Lausanne with his successor, Giuliano della Rovere, on 15 July 1476. He died as Bishop of Lausanne on 8 May 1491. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 894-895. Lecanu, I, pp. 263-265. Eubel II, pp. 134-135 with note 4, 173.
- Della Rovere, a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, was appointed on 15 July 1476. He never visited the diocese, taking possession on 18 October 1476 by proxy; his procurator, Georges du Mesnilpény, Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, and Dean of the Collegial Church of Saint-Marie-la-Neuve (Villeneuve), governed the diocese for the Cardinal. His successor was appointed on 3 December 1477. Lecanu, I, pp. 265-266. Eubel, II, pp. 16, 135.
- Geoffroy Herbert's bulls were issued on 3 July 1478. He became the First President of the Parlement de Normandie in 1499. He died on 1 February 1510. Bishop Geoffrey Herbert's brother Louis became Bishop of Avranches in 1511; he was the executor of Geoffrey's Testament. Toustain, II, pp. 390-391. Eubel, II, p. 135; III, pp. 91, 176 note 2.
- Gouffier was appointed Bishop of Coutances on 15 April 1510. On the accession of Francis I on 1 January 1515, Gouffier was named First Aumonier, and therefore he remained at Court; the diocese was governed by his brother Aimeri and by his auxiliary bishop Guillaume Chevron. He was named a cardinal by Pope Leo X on 14 December 1515, and assigned the titular church of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro. He resigned the diocese on 20 November 1519, and was appointed Archbishop of Albi on 6 June (or 9 September) 1519. Lecanu, I, pp. 421-423. Toustain de Billy, III, pp. 1-32. Eubel, III, p. 101, with notes 8 and 9; p. 176.
- Cardinal da Bibbiena was appointed Administrator of the diocese on 9 September 1519. He died in Rome on 1 or 9 November 1520. Lecanu, I, p. 423. Toustain de Billy, III, pp. 33-43. Eubel, III, p. 14, 176.
- De la Trémoïlle: Lecanu, I, pp. 283-284.
- Cossé–Brissac: Lecanu, I, pp. 284-287.
- Esquetot: Lecanu, I, pp. 301-302.
- Martel: Lecanu, I, pp. 302-305.
- Cossé–Brissac: Lecanu, I, pp. 307-317.
- King Henri III gave Jacques de Matignon the provision of the Bishopric of Coutances for life, as a compensation for his services. Jacques named his son Lancelot, the Abbot Commendatory of Cherbourg, on 21 December 1587. Lancelot Goyon proposed to make a pilgrimage to Rome and to be consecrated by Pope Sixtus V personally. He died, however, on 1 January 1588. Lecanu, I, p. 319.
- Nicolas de Briroy: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 903-905.
- Bourgoin: Gallia christiana XI, p. 905.
- Léonor Goyon: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 905-906.
- Auvry: treasurer of Sainte-Chapelle. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 906-907.
- Le Clerc: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 907-908.
- Loménie: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 908-909. Jean, pp. 350-351. Ritzler, V, p. 169, with note 3.
- Goyon: Gallia christiana XI, p. 909. Jean, p. 351. Ritzler, V, p. 169, with note 4.
- Du Quesnoy was born at Valognes (Coutances) and was a Doctor of theology (Paris). He was Archdeacon and a Vicar-General of Coutances for twenty-five years. He was nominated bishop by King Louis XV on 17 April 1757, and preconized (approved) by Pope Benedict XIV on 18 July 1757. He was consecrated on 21 August 1757 by Bishop Louis-François Néel de Christot of Séez. He died on 9 September 1764. Jean, p. 351. Ritzler, VI, p. 179, with note 2.
- Talaru was born in the diocese of Clermont. He held the Bacculaureate in theology and Licenciate in Civil and Canon Law from the University of Paris. He was a Vicar-General of Sens for eleven years. On 21 October 1764 he was nominated Bishop of Coutances by King Louis XV, and was preconized (approved) by Pope Clement XIII on 4 February 1765. He was consecrated on 10 March 1765 by Paul Cardinal d'Albert de Luynes, Archbishop of Sens. He refused to take the oath to the Constitution in 1791, emigrated in 1792, died at London on 21 March 1798. Jean, p. 351. Ritzler, VI, p. 179, with note 3.
- Paul Pisani (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils. pp. 177–182.
- Born in Paris, Rousseau became Court Preacher in 1774 and was named a Canon of Chartres. He emigrated in 1791, returning in 1799. He was named bishop by First Consul Bonaparte, and was confirmed on 14 April 1802. He was consecrated in Paris at St.-Roch on 25 April 1802 by the Archbishop of Rouen, Etienne-Hubert de Cambacérès. He was transferred to the diocese of Orleans on 3 August 1807. He died on 7 October 1810 at the age of 75. Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français... pp. 205-206 and 428.
- Dupont: Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français..., pp. 206-207.
- Robiou was born at Combiou (Ille-et-Vilaine) in 1794. He was professor at the seminary in Rennes, and then parish priest of Saint-Étienne in Rennes. He was named bishop of Coutances on 17 October 1835 and preconized (approved) by Pope Gregory XVI on 1 February 1836. He was consecrated in Paris on 6 March 1836 by Archbishop Hyacinthe-Louis de Quélen, and took possession of the diocese on 27 March. He resigned on 7 December 1852 at the age of seventy, and retired to Rennes; he was named Canon of Saint-Denis. Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français..., pp. 207-208.
- Nepos is the first bishop of Avranches known to history. He was present at the First Council of Orléans on 10 July 511. De Clercq, p. 13 (Nepus episcopus de Abrincates), 14 (de Aprincis), 15 (ecclesiae Abrincatinae), 19 (ex civitate Abrincatas Naepus episcopus subscripsi). Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 1.
- Severus' episcopacy is attested only from the 11th century on. Duchesne, II, p. 223.
- Perpetuus was present at the Council of Orléans of 533, and was represented at the Councils of 538 and 541. Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 2.
- Aegidius: Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 3.
- Paternus was present at the Council of Paris of ca. 557/573. De Clercq, p. 210. Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 4.
- Senator's episcopacy is first attested even later than Severus' (11th century). Duchesne, II, p. 223.
- Leodevaldus is mentioned by Gregory of Tours, Virtutes Martini II, 36. Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 5.
- Hildoaldus was present at the Council of Paris in 614 and the Council of Clichy in 627. De Clercq, p. 281 line 171; p. 297 line 211. Duchesne, II, p. 224, no. 6.
- Ragertrannus: Duchesne, pp. 224-225, no. 7.
- The list of bishops of Avranches printed by Duchesne, p. 222, places S. Authbertus before Rahentrannus. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 472-473.
- Gams, p. 505.
- Ansegardus was present at the Council of Soissons in 853 and the Council of Verberie in 853. J.-D. Mansi, Tomus XIV, p. 982, 989. Gallia christiana XI, p. 473. Duchesne, p. 225 no. 8.
- Remedius was present at the Council of Bonneuil in 855. Mansi, Tomus XV, p. 28. Duchesne, p. 225 no. 9.
- Waltbertus was present at the Council of Savonnières in 859, and the Council of Thusey (Tullense II) in 860. Mansi, Tomus XV, p. 529, 561. He also subscribed a charter at Pistey in 862. Duchesne, p. 225 no. 10.
- Elisabeth M. C. van Houts (translator), The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni (1995), note p. 149.
- Herbert was the grandson of Henry I of England, by a lady of St.-Lô, and a Chaplain of Henry II. In 1157 he assisted Hugues of Cluny, Archbishop of Rouen, in translating the relics of Saint Firmat. Herbert had the honor of receiving both King Louis VII and King Henry II when they were on pilgrimage to Mont Saint-Michel. Bishop Herbert died at Bec on 6 September 1161. Lecanu, I, pp. 249-252. Gams, p. 506.
- De Faye was a Doctor of Civil and Canon Law. He had been Archdeacon of Gand in the Church of Tournai, and had been Bishop of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany (1376–1379). Eubel, I, pp. 66 and 146.
- Jean de Saint-Avit had been Abbot of S. Medard (diocese of Soissons). Eubel, I, p. 66.
- Pericard: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 65, with note 2.
- Vialart: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 65, with note 3.
- Aumont: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 65, with note 4.
- Boislève: Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 65, with note 5.
- Froulay de Tessé: Jean, pp. 343-344. Ritzler, V, p. 65 with note 2.
- Sillery was named in June 1689, and exchanged sees with Huet of Soissons, who had never received his bulls. Both were victims of the war between Louis XIV and Innocent XI (on whose death in 1689 thirty-five French bishoprics were vacant because of his refusal to grant bulls to candidates of the excommunicated king). Jean, p. 344.
- Huet was a native of Caen and the son of Huguenot converts. He became sub-Preceptor of the Dauphin in 1670, and a member of the Académie Française in 1674. He was named Abbot commendatory of Aunay in 1678. He was consecrated Bishop of Avranches in Paris on 24 August 1692 by Archbishop François de Harlay de Champvallon. Huet resigned on 20 April 1699, and was given the Abbey of Fontenay in compensation. He retired to Paris and took up residence in the house of the professed Jesuits, where he died on 25 January 1721 at the age of 91. Jean, p. 344. Ritzler, V, p. 65 with note 3. Huet, Pierre Daniel (1810). Memoirs of the life of Peter Daniel Huet, bishop of Avranches, written by himself, tr. by J. Aikin. Vol. 2 vols. London: Longman.
- Kerhoent: Jean, pp. 344-345. Ritzler, V, p. 65 with note 4.
- Le Blanc: Jean, p. 345. Ritzler, V, p. 65 with note 5.
- Durand de Missy was born in Rouen in 1692. He was a Doctor of theology and fellow of the Sorbonne, and became Dean of the Collegiate Church of S.-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Paris. He was a Vicar-General of Meaux, and then Vicar-General of Luynes in the diocese of Bayeux, when he was nominated Bishop of Avranches by King Louis XV on 17 April 1746. He was preconized (approved) by Pope Benedict XIV on 19 September 1746, and consecrated in Paris at the Église Saint-Louis on 9 October 1746 by Bishop Hardouin de Châlon de Maisonnoble of Lescar. He died on 4 April 1764. Jean, p. 345. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 with note 2.
- Durfort: Jean, p. 345. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 with note 3.
- Malide: Jean, pp. 345-346. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 with note 4.
- Belbeuf: Jean, p. 346. Ritzler, VI, p. 61 with note 5.
- Born at Contrières in 1794, Daniel studied at the Collège de Coutances, and became Professor of the Collège Royale in Caen. He was consecrated at Coutances on 12 June 1853 by the Archbishop of Rouen. He died on 4 July 1862. Lecanu, II, pp. 189-194. Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français... pp. 208-210.
- Bravard: Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français... pp. 210-211.
- Germain was born at Saint-Sylvain (Bayeux) in 1833. He was a Canon of Bayeux and curate of the Cathedral when he was appointed Bishop of Coutances by presidential decree on 19 November 1875. He was preconized (approved) by Pope Pius IX on 28 January 1876, and consecrated at Bayeux on 19 March 1876 by Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand Cardinal de Bonnechose, Archbishop of Rouen. He made his solemn entry into Coutances on 28 March. He devoted most of his energy to preaching. He died on 12 November 1897. Lecanu, II, p. 199. Gautan Guillot, in: Société bibliographique (France) (1907), L'épiscopat français... pp. 211-212.
- Guérard was born at Loudéac (Côtes-du-Nord) in 1846. He studied at the Collège St.-Vincent at Rennes, and then at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice. He served as vicar of Saint-Sauveur in Rennes (1870), then was director of the Major Seminary in Rennes (1872), and became Secretary of the Archbishop (1873). Eight years later, in 1880, he became Secretary-General of the diocese. In 1883 he was named a Canon of the Cathedral of Rennes, and became Penitentiary and Master of Ceremonies of the Chapter. He was preconized (approved) by Pope Leo XIII on 28 November 1898 and consecrated at Rennes on 2 February 1899 by Cardinal Guillaume-Marie-Joseph Labouré. He was expelled from his diocese on 17 December 1906. He was granted the pallium on 17 July 1907. Revue Catholique de Normandie (in French). Vol. 8. Èvreux. 1898. pp. 432–433.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Louvard was born at Radon (near Alençon) in 1858. He studied at the junior seminary of Séez. He was a teacher at the junior seminary in Séez, then superior of the school of St. Francis de Sales in Alençon (1898). He was appointed honorary Vicar-General, and then appointed Bishop of Langres on 10 March 1919. He was consecrated in Séez on 1 May 1919 by Bishop Claude Bardel. He took possession of the See of Coutances by proxy on 11 January 1925. "Diocese of Langres", Catholic Encyclopedia Volume 17 Supplement I (NY 1922), p. 447.
- Guyot was born in Bordeaux in 1905, and studied at the seminary and at the University of Bordeaux. He studied in Rome at the Pontifical Athenaeum S. Thomae (Angelicum). In Bordeaux he founded the Seminary S. Maurice for late vocations to the priesthood. He was named Vicar General of the diocese (1944–1949). He was named titular bishop of Helenopolis in Palestine and Coadjutor Bishop of Coutances in 1949; he was consecrated on 4 May 1949 by Archbishop Maurice Feltin of Bordeaux. On 8 April 1950 he became Bishop of Coutances. On 28 April 1966 Guyot was named archbishop of Toulouse (1966–1978), and Cardinal on 5 March 1973. He took part in the two Conclaves of 1978. He died on 1 August 1988. Martin Bräuer (2014). Handbuch der Kardinäle: 1846-2012 (in German). Berlin: De Gruyter. p. 449. ISBN 978-3-11-026947-5. Salvador Miranda, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Guyot, Louis-Jean, retrieved: 2017-01-15.
- Lalanne was transferred by Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, January 31, 2013, to be Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pontoise, in Pontoise, France. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - Diocèse de Coutances, Le parcours de Mgr Laurent le Boulc'h Archived 2017-01-16 at the Wayback Machine (in French), retrieved: 2017-01-15.
- "Resignations and Appointments, 01.04.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- "Resignations and Appointments, 05.08.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
Bibliography
Reference works
- Gallia christiana: in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa (in Latin). Vol. Tomus undecimus (11). Paris: ex Typographia regia. 1759. pp. 865–949, Instrumenta, pp. 218–338.
- Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz. (Use with caution; obsolete)
- Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 1 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
- Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 2 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. (in Latin)
- Eubel, Conradus (ed.); Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
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:|first1=
has generic name (help) - Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
- Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
- Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
- Round, John Horace (1899). Calendar of documents preserved in France: illustrative of the history of Great Britain and Ireland. A.D. 918-1206. Vol. 1. Vol. 1. London: H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 249–351. ISBN 9781313514026.
Studies
- Daniel, Jacques Louis (1848). Notice historique sur le Collège de Coutances (in French). Caen: Typ. de A. Hardel.
- Desroches, Jean-Jacques (1838). Histoire du Mont Saint-Michel et de l'ancien Diocese d'Avranches (in French). Vol. 2 vols. Caen: Chez Mancel.
- Duchesne, Louis (1910). Fastes épiscopaux de l'ancienne Gaule: II. L'Aquitaine et les Lyonnaises. Paris: Fontemoing. pp. 130–134.
- Hayden, J. Michael (2013). "Chapter 3: The Catholicisms of the Bishops of Coutances". The Catholicisms of Coutances: Varieties of Religion in Early Modern France, 1350-1789. Montreal-Kingston: McGill-Queens Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-8847-9.
- Jean, Armand (1891). Les évêques et les archevêques de France depuis 1682 jusqu'à 1801 (in French). Paris: A. Picard.
- Le Moigne, Frédéric; Christian Sorrel (2016). Les évêques français de la Séparation au pontificat de Jean-Paul II (in French). Paris: Editions du Cerf. ISBN 978-2-204-12086-9.
- Lecanu, Auguste (1877). Histoire du diocèse de Coutances et Avranches (in French). Vol. Tome I. Coutances: Salettes. Lecanu, Auguste François (1878). Tome II (in French).
- Pigeon, E. A. (1876). Histoire de la Cathédrale de Coutances (in French). Coutances: E. Salettes Fils.
- Power, Daniel (16 December 2004). The Norman Frontier in the Twelfth and Early Thirteenth Centuries. Cambridge University Press. pp. 43–53, 113–121, 132–135. ISBN 978-0-521-57172-2. (Avranches)
- Société bibliographique (France) (1907). L'épiscopat français depuis le Concordat jusqu'à la Séparation (1802-1905). Paris: Librairie des Saints-Pères.
- Toussaint, Joseph (1983). Coutances: du concordat à la séparation, 1801-1905 (in French). Coutances: OCEP. ISBN 978-2-7134-0058-2.
- Toustain de Billy, Rene (1874). Histoire ecclésiastique du Diocèse de Coutances (in French). Vol. Tome I. Rouen: Ch. Métérie. Billy, René Toustain de (1880). Tome II. Billy, René Toustain de (1886). Tome III.
External links
- (in French) Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France, L'Épiscopat francais depuis 1919 Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved: 2016-12-24.
- Coutances from the Catholic Encyclopedia