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Roman Catholic Diocese of Uzès

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The Ancient Diocese of Uzès (Lat.: Uceticensis) is a former Roman Catholic diocese in France. From the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century until the French Revolution the southern French city of Uzès, in the department of Gard, was the seat of a bishop, a competitor to the local lords.

Uzès Cathedral

History

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The first reliably documented Bishop of Uzès was Constantius,[1] who was present at the Council of Vaison in 442. Other notable bishops were the fourth, Saint Firminus (541-53), who is locally venerated as Saint Firmin and whose remains are kept in Uzès Cathedral. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Theodoritus (Saint Théodorit) priest of Antioch, martyr, and patron saint of the town,[2] and who was invoked against plague. Also honored is Saint Ferreol (553-81).[3]

In the eighth century, Saracen occupation of the town resulted in the destruction of all the Christian structures. Under Charlemagne, who liberated Uzès, the territory was organized into a county. The count of Uzès freed the bishop from his military obligations. The counts, however, were dependent upon the counts of Toulouse, who in 1065 managed to place one of their nephews in Uzès; eventually Uzès lost the title of count and became a seignory of Toulouse.[4]

On 15 October 879, Bishop Walefridus of Uzès participated in the election of Boso of Provence, the son of Bivin of Gorze, count of Lotharingia, and Richildis, the daughter of Boso the Elder, as King of Provence.[5]

In 1177, the Albigensians, who entirely rejected the idea of a church hierarchy, entered Uzès, destroyed the cathedral, the church of Ss. Peter and Paul, the church of S. Jean, and the church of the monastery of Saint-Ferreol.[6]

As the power of territorial magnates dispersed,[vague] the bishops obtained the right to strike coinage.[7] The date of the beginning of coinage by the bishops is unknown, but the privilege was confirmed by Louis the Younger in 1156, and again by Philip II in 1211.[8] In the 13th century, at the height of the see's power, the bishop was able to purchase a part of the signory of Uzès. Prior Guillaume de Grimoard held office as vicar-general of the bishop of Uzès, from 1357 to 1362, before becoming Pope Urban V.[9]

Huguenots

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Like many cloth-manufacturing centers (Uzès manufactures serge), the city and the surrounding countryside were strongly Protestant during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, which wreaked havoc in the Languedoc regions, and Bishop Jean de Saint Gelais (1531–60) became a Calvinist.[3] Many of the city's churches were burned by Huguenots and only two remained.

The Capuchins first established a house in Uzès in 1605, and by 1635, with help from the duke of Uzès, they built a church and a convent.[10]

The missionary Jacques Bridaine (1701–67) was a native of the village of Chusclan in the diocese of Uzès.[11] Even before he was ordained a priest, he was commissioned by Bishop Michel Poncet de la Rivière of Uzès to preach in Vers, then in Saint-Quentin. His mission was to bring back Catholicism to an area which had been Huguenot for a century.[12]

French Revolution

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The diocese of Uzès was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Narbonne.[13] The diocese had two religious houses, one for men, the Cluniac Pont-Saint Esprit; the other for women, the Cistercian Valsauve-de-Bagnols.[14] Both were closed during the French revolution, their members releaste from their vows by governmental order and pensioned off, the properties appropriated by the government. The Chapter of the cathedral was also dissolved.

For seventy days, from February to April 1813, the city of Uzès was the enforced residence of Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca, the pro-Secretary of State of Pope Pius VII.[15] He had been deported from Rome along with Pope Pius VII when Napoleon annexed the Papal States to France. After his confinement at Fenestrelle (1812–1813), he was permitted to visit Pius at Fontainebleau, before being sent under guard to Uzès.[16]

The bishopric of Nîmes was re-established as a separate diocese in 1821.

A Papal Brief of 27 April 1877, granted to its bishop the right to add the titles Alais and Uzès to Nîmes, with the territory of the two suppressed dioceses combined with that of Nîmes.[3]

Bishops of Uzès

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To 1150

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  • 419?–462 Constantius[17]
  • 506 : Probatius[18]
[Roricius][19]
[581]  : Jovinus usurper[23]
  • 581  : Marcellus
...
  • 659  : Aurelien (Aurele)
  • 661  : Mummolus
...
  • 773  : Sigibert (Sigepert, Sigisbert)
  • 791  : Arimundus (Arimond)[24]
  • 823–835 : Amelius I.
  • 841  : Éliphas[25]
  • 858–879 : Walafrid[26]
  • 885  : Asaël[27]
  • c.886–c.915 : Amelius (II).[28]
...
  • 945 : Rostagnus[29]
...
  • 994–c.1030 : Heribaldus[30]
...
  • 1030–after 1066 : Hugues (Hugo)[31]
...
  • 1096–1138 : Raymond (I.)[32]
  • 1139–1150 : Ébrard (I.) (Éverard)[33]

From 1150 to 1400

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  • 1150–1188 : Raymond de Posquières
  • 1188–1190 : Bertrand (I.)
  • 1190–1204 : Guillaume de Vénéjan[34]
  • 1203–1207 : Ébrard (II.)[35]
  • 1208–1212 : Raymond[36]
  • 1212–1227 : Raymond (IV)[37]
  • 1228–1239 : Berlio[38]
  • 1240–1249 : Pons de Becmil[39]
  • 1249–1285 : Bertrand Armand
  • 1285–1308 : Guillaume des Gardies
Sede vacante (1308–1314)[40]
  • 1314–1318 : André de Frédol, O.S.A.[41]
  • 1318–1344 : Guillaume de Mandagout[42]
  • 1344–1346 : Élias (Hélias de Saint-Yrieix)
  • 1357–1365 : Pierre d'Aigrefeuille
  • 1365–1366 : Pierre (II.) (Gérard de la Rovère)
  • 1366–1371 : Bonuspar (Bompar)[43]
  • 1371–1374 : Bernard de Saint-Étienne
  • 1374–1398 : Martial[44]

From 1400 to 1801

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  • 1400–1405 : Pierre de Beaublé (Belbladi)[45]
  • 1405–1426 : Géraud de Breuil (Guiraud de Broglio)[46]
[1426  : Pierre Soybert][47]
  • 1427–1441 : Bertrand de Cadoène[48]
  • 1441–1442 : Guillaume de Champeaux[49]
  • 1442–1445 : Alain de Coëtivy Administrator[50]
  • 1445–1446 : Guillaume Soybert[51]
  • 1446–1448 : Olivier du Châtel[52]
  • 1448–1463 : Gabriel du Châtel[53]
  • 1463–1483 : Jean de Mareuil[54]
  • 1483–1503 : Nicolas Malgras (Maugras, Malgrassi)
  • 1503–1531 : Jacques de Saint-Gelais[55]
  • 1531–1570 : Jean de Saint-Gelais[56]
  • 1570–1591 : Robert de Girard
  • 1591–1601 : François Rousset
  • 1601–1624 : Louis de Vigne[57]
  • 1621–1633 : Paul-Antoine de Fay de Peraut[58]
  • 1633–1660 : Nicolas de Grillié (de Grillet)[59]
  • 1660–1674 : Jacques Adhémar de Monteil de Grignan[60]
  • 1674–1677 : Michel Phélypeaux de la Vrillière
  • 1677–1728 : Michel Poncet de la Rivière[61]
  • 1728–1736 : François de Lastic de Saint-Jal[62]
  • 1737–1779 : Bonaventure Baüyn[63]
  • 1779–1801 : Henri Benoît Jules de Béthizy de Mézières[64]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The original editors of Gallia christiana VI, p. 610, report that he was bishop already in 419, based on a letter of Pope Boniface I of 419, directed to 14 named bishops and others in the Gauls and Seven Provinces. The name Constantinus appears, but none of the bishops has his see named, except Maximus of Valence, who was to be placed on trial by the others. Jacques Sirmond, Concilia antiqua Galliae, (in Latin), Volume 1 ( Sebastiani Cramoisy, 1629), p. 38. There is no reason to think that Constantinus was the same as Constantius, or that his see was "Uceticensis". Duchesne, p. 314, and most modern authors omit Constantinus.
  2. ^ Gallia christiana VI, p. 609.
  3. ^ a b c Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Nîmes" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. ^ Lionel d'Albiousse, pp. 29-31.
  5. ^ D.P. Curtin, Frankish Royal Elections: Boso, Eudes, Louis & Guy, (Philadelphia: Dalcassian Pub. Co. 2005), pp. 7, 22.
  6. ^ Lionel d'Albiousse, pp. 51-52.
  7. ^ Inge Lyse Hansen, Chris Wickham, The Long Eighth Century: Production, Distribution and Demand (Leiden-Boston: Brill 2021), p. 183: "The switch from emperor to king notwithstanding, the royal coinage is identical with its predecessor, is issued from the same four principal mints—Marsdeille, Arles, Uzès and Viviers—and continues to represent a centrally-inspired attempt to profit from trade on the Rhône-valley axis." Philip Grierson, "Le sou d'or d'Uzès," in: Le Moyen Age (1954), 293-309, rejecting the idea that the gold coins of Charlemagne are authentic contemporary currency. Robert Latouche, The Birth of the Western Economy: Economic Aspects of the Dark Ages (New York: Routledge, 2013), p. 151, note 1: "The only gold coins issued under the early Carolingians were struck at Aix-la-Chapelle. Consequently the mint at Uzès which turned out gold coins is a myth."
  8. ^ Lionel d'. Albiousse, p. 27.
  9. ^ Jean Baptiste Magnan, Histoire d'Urbain V., (in French) (Paris, 1862), pp. 87-88.
  10. ^ Lionel d'. Albiousse, p. 157.
  11. ^ Edwin Charles Dargan, A History of Preaching ...: Vol. II. From the Close of the Reformation Period to the End of the Nineteenth Century, 1572-1900. (New York: G.H. Doran Company, 1912), pp. 254-257.
  12. ^ J. Rance, "Bridaine en Provence," in: Annales de Provence, (in French), Volume 1 (Marseille: J. Chauffard 1883), p. 39.
  13. ^ Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 400, note 1; VI, p. 428, note 1.
  14. ^ Jean, p. 279.
  15. ^ Bartolomeo Pacca, Mémoires du Cardinal Pacca, sur la Captivité du Pape Pie VII. et le Concordat de 1813, pour servir à l'histoire du règne de Napoléon, troisième édition, Volume 2 (Paris: Ladvocat 1833), pp. 201-240.
  16. ^ Bartolomeo Pacca, Historical Memoirs of Cardinal Pacca, Prime Minister to Pius VII, Volume 1 (London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1850), passim.
  17. ^ Bishop Constantius (Constantinus) participated in the Council of Vaison in 442: "Ex prouincia prima Narboninsi Eucesia oppido Constantius episcopus, Principius diaconus." (C. Munier, Concilia Galliae (Turnholt: Brepols 1965), p. 102); in the council of Arles in 451. In 462, he was appointed by Pope Hilarius to preside over the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Narbonensis prima. Gallia christiana VI, p. 610. Duchesne, p. 314, no. 1.
  18. ^ Probatus, Probacius, Probasius: Munier, p. 213: "Probatius in Christi nomine episcopus de Vcetia subscripsi." Duchesne, p. 315, no. 2.
  19. ^ According to the "Legend of Saint Firminus", Roricus was the father and predecessor of the saint on the episcopal throne of Uzès. Gallia Christiana VI, p. 611. Duchense (p. 315, note 1), however, considers the source 'hardly reassuring', and excludes Roricius from the list of bishops: "Le G. C. insère ici un Roricius, père du suivant, d'après la légende de celui-ci, laquelle est des moins rassurantes."
  20. ^ Bishop Firminus attended the council of Orleans in 541; the council of 549 in 549; and the council of Paris in 552. Duchesne, p. 315, no. 3.
  21. ^ Duchesne, p. 315, no. 4.
  22. ^ Albinus was bishop for only three months, according to Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum Book VI, § 7: "Post cuius obitum Albinus ex praefecto per Dinamium rectorem Provinciae extra regis consilium suscepit episcopatum ; quem non amplius quam tribus utens mensibus, cum ad hoc causa restitisset, ut removeretur , defunctus est." He had failed to secure the consent of the king (the praeceptio), and was deposed. O.W. Dalton, The History of the Franks, Volume 1 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1927), p. 288, 296. Duchesne, p. 315, no. 5, with note 6.
  23. ^ His name is omitted both by Gallia Chrsistiana and by Duchesne. Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum Book VI, § 7: "Iovinus iterum, qui quondam & Provinciae rector fuerat, regium de episcopatum praeceptum accipit. Sed praevenit eum Marcellus diaconus, Felicis senatoris filius. Qui, convocatis conprovincialibus, per consilium Dinamii episcopus ordinatus est. Sed et ipse vi pulsatus deinceps a Iovino, ut removeretur, conclusus in civitate, virtute se defensare nitebatur; sed cum non valeret, muneribus vicit." Gallia Christiana VI, p. 614.
  24. ^ The name of Arimundus (Arimond) appears among the signatories of the false council of Narbonne in c. 788. Duchesne, p. 315, no. 9. J.D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, (in Latin), Vol. 13 (Florence: A. Zatta 1767), p. 823. Charles Joseph Hefele, Histoire des conciles (ed. H. Leclercq) (in French), Vol. 3, part 2 (Paris: Letouzey 1910), pp. 1024-1027.
  25. ^ (Éléphant, Alphant, Alphonse) is mentioned in the preface to Dodana's "Liber Dodonae Manualis", in: J.P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Latinae Tomus CVI (Paris 1855), p. 110. Duchesne, p. 315, no. 10.
  26. ^ (Wilfrid, Wilfred) participated in the transfer of relics in 858. He assisted at the coronation of Louis the Stammerer as king in West Francia in 877. He was present at the council of Troyes in 878, and at the council of Mantaille in 879. Duchesne, pp. 315-316, no. 11.
  27. ^ Asaël was in office on 15 August 885, the day that S. Theodard arrived in Uzès. Duchesne, p. 316, no. 12.
  28. ^ Amelius: Duchesne, p. 316, no. 13.
  29. ^ Rostaing: Rostagnus subscribed the foundation charter of the Priory of S. Saturninus du Port (-Esprit) in August 945. Claude De Vic & Joseph Vaissete, Histoire generale de Languedoc, (in French and Latin). Tome second (Paris: Jacques Vincent 1733). "Preuves," pp. 87-88. Gallia Christiana VI, p. 617 B. Charvet, p. 107.
  30. ^ Heribaldus (Aribald, Arbaud) was present at the council of Anse in the diocese of Lyon in 994. In 1004 he was present at the assembly of Psalmodi. In 1010, he was present at a council of Urgel. He subscribed a bull of Pope Benedict VIII (1012–1024) in 1020. In 1025, Heribaldus attended the (second) council of Anse, where a conflict between the archbishop of Vienne and the bishop of Mâcon was adjudicated. J.D. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus 19 (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 423. Claude De Vic & Joseph Vaissete, Histoire generale de Languedoc, (in French and Latin). Tome second (Paris: Jacques Vincent 1733). p. 143-144, 153. Charvet, p. 107.
  31. ^ Bishop Hugo subscribed the acts of the council of Narbone, which met in 1031 or 1032. In 1050, he was at the council of Thibéry. He took part in the consecration of the cathedral of Maguelonne in 1054. In 1066, Bishop Hugo subscribed to the grant of Count Raymond IV of Toulouse in favor of the abbey of S. Gilles. The "Hugo sedis apostolicae legatus" at the council of Bordeaux in 1080 was not Hugp of Uzès, but Hugo de Die. J.D. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus 19 (Venice: A. Zatta 1774), p. 556, 795. Charvet, pp. 107-108.
  32. ^ Charvet, p. 108.
  33. ^ Charvet, pp. 108-109.
  34. ^ Guillaume de Vénéjan: Charvet, p. 110.
  35. ^ Evrardus is attested in 1203 and 1207. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 510.
  36. ^ Raymond (III.) (Rainon, Raynier)
  37. ^ Raymond was named "de Mas d'André" (Mansus Andreae). He is attested in 1212 and 1227. Eubel I, p. 510.
  38. ^ (Berlion, Berlionc): Eubel I, p. 510.
  39. ^ Bishop Pons died on 16 April 1249. Charvet, p. 115. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 510.
  40. ^ Following the death of Bishop Guillaume on 30 December 1308, the canons of the cathedral met to elect a successor. They agreed on one of their own canons, Gaucelmus de Mayreriis. But one of the canons, Pontius de Alayraco, who opposed him, filed an appeal at the papal court against the election. According to the usual procedures, Pope Clement V appointed a committee of three cardinals to investigate the election, who declared the election void. After timely deliberation with other cardinals, with bishops, and with and others, the pope, on 30 March 1314, appointed Andreas de Fredol, a canon of the cathedral of Maguelonne, to the bishopric of Uzès. The pope died three weeks later. Eubel I, p. 510 with note 2. Regestum Clementis Papae V (Rome: Typographia Vaticana 1888), Year 9, p. 89, no. 10284.
  41. ^ Andreas was appointed bishop of Uzès on 30 March 1314. He was transferred to the diocese of Maguelonne by Pope John XXII on 8 February 1318. He died on 29 February 1328. Eubel I, pp. 320; 510 with note 2.
  42. ^ Guillaume had been Bishop of Lodève from 1313 to 1318. He was transferred to Uzès by Pope John XXII on 14 February 1318. He died inh 1344, after 21 April, and before 5 September. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, pp. 309 ith note 3; 511.
  43. ^ Bonuspar was a doctor of laws. He had been Provost of the cathedral of Mende, and was appointed bishop of Uzès by Pope Urban V on 11 August 1366. He was appointed Bishop of Mende by Pope Gregory XI on 16 June 1371. Eubel I, pp. 511.
  44. ^ Martialis held a licenciate in law. He had been Provost of the cathedral of Liège. He was appointed bishop of Uzès by Pope Gregory XI on 14 July 1394. He died in 1398. Eubel I, p. 511.
  45. ^ Petrus, the archdeacon of Otta in the diocese of Evreux, was elected by the Chapter of Uzès, confirmed, and consecrated. But he was not granted his bulls of installation by Pope Benedict XIII (Avignon Obedience). Benedict had been repudiated by King Charles VI of France, the bishops of France, and the University of Paris in 1398, and therefore his consent made no difference. He was transferred to the diocese of Séez, a suffragan of Rouen, by Benedict XIII on 16 September 1405. He died in 1408. Gallia christiana VI, p. 639. Eubel I, pp. 428; 511, note 7.
  46. ^ Geraldus was appointed on 18 September 1405, by Pope Benedict XIII (Avignon Obedience). Gallia christiana VI, p. 639. Eubel I, p. 511.
  47. ^ Pierre Soybert, a doctor of Canon Law, and a canon of Albi and archdeacon, was elected by the Chapter of Uzès, but was rejected by Pope Martin V; on the same day, 28 January 1426, the pope appointed him bishop of S. Papoul. Eubel I, pp. 390, note 11; 511, note 9.
  48. ^ Bertrand: Gallia christiana VI, p. 640.
  49. ^ Guillaume had been Bishop of Laon (1419–1441). In April and May 1441, documents call him Administrator perpetuus. His bulls of transfer to Uzès were issued on 17 May 1441. He was appointed on 1 June 1441. He died in 1442. Gallia christiana VI, p. 640-641. Eubel I, pp. 296; II, p. 261 with notes 1 and 2.
  50. ^ Coetivy was bishop of Avignon. Gallia christiana VI, p. 641.
  51. ^ Soybert had been Provost of the cathedral Chapter of Uzès. He was appointed bishop on 4 July 1445, by Pope Eugenius III. He was transferred to the diocese of Carpentras on 30 May 1446. Gallia christiana VI, p. 641. Eubel II, p. 261.
  52. ^ (Oliverius de Castro): Gallia christiana VI, p. 641. Eubel II, p. 261.
  53. ^ Gabriel de Castro was the nephew of Bishop Olivier du Châtel. He died in Rome in September 1463, and was buried in Santa Prassede. Gallia christiana VI, p. 641-642. Eubel II, p. 261 with note 3.
  54. ^ Joannes de Marolio held a licenciate in Civil and Canon Law, and had been Bishop of Bayonne from 1454 to 1463. He was appointed bishop of Uzès by Pope Pius II on 28 September 1463. He died in 1483, before August. Eubel II, pp. 101, 261.
  55. ^ Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 324 note 2.
  56. ^ Joannes de S. Gelasio, nephew of his predecessor Jacques, held a licenciate in Canon and Civil Law, and had been Dean of the cathedral Chapter of Bordeaux. In 1553 he was declared a heretic, and on 11 December 1566 he was deprived. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica III, p. 324 note 2.
  57. ^ De Vigne was appointed on 18 September 1598. had restored the cathedral, which had been damaged by the Huguenot wars. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 354, with note 1.
  58. ^ Fay was named titular bishop of Helenopolis and coadjutor bishop of Uzès on 21 October 1613. He succeeded Bishop de Vigne in 1624. Gauchat, pp. 200 with note 1; 354 with note 3.
  59. ^ Grillier had been Bishop of Bazas (1631–1633). He was nominated bishop of Uzèson 30 April 1633 by King Louis XIII, and approved on 3 April 1634 by Pope Urban VIII. He died on 12 February 1660. Gauchat, p. 354 with note 4; 359 with note 3.
  60. ^ Jacques Adhémar de Monteil de Grignan had previously been Bishop of S.-Paul-trois-Châteaux from 1645. He was nominated coadjutor of the bishop of Uzès by King Louis XIV on 22 May 1657, and confirmed by Pope Alexander VII on 30 September 1658. He succeeded Bishop de Grillié on 12 February 1660. Gallia christiana VI, p. 646. Gauchat, p. 344 with note 5; 354 with note 6.
  61. ^ Michel Poncet de la Rivière: Jean, p. 278.
  62. ^ Lastic had been vicar general of Bordeaux, Dean of the Collegiate Church of Nôtre-Dame de Andeliaca, and Vicar-General of the archbishop of Rouen. He was nominated bishop of Uzès by King Louis XV on 28 November 1728, and approved by Pope Benedict XIV on 3 March 1729. He resigned the bishopric of Uzès on 17 November 1736, and was transferred to the diocese of Castres by Pope Clement XII on 11 February 1737. Gallia christiana VI, p. 647. Jean, p. 278. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 428 with note 2.
  63. ^ Bauyn: Jean, pp. 278-279.
  64. ^ Mézières refused to take the compulsory oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, as demanded by the National Constituent Assembly. He was therefore considered deposed by the French government (who did not have canonical authority to do so), and he was forced to flee the country. When Pope Pius VII abolished the dioceses of France on 29 November 1801, Mézières lost his diocese, which he had refused to resign, even at the pope's request. He died in exile in London on 8 August 1817. Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 428 with note 3.

Bibliography

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Sources: Episcopal lists

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Studies

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44°01′N 4°25′E / 44.01°N 4.42°E / 44.01; 4.42

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