Gaston Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Verneuil (3 November 1601 – 28 May 1682), was the bishop of Metz from 1612 to 1652, despite not being ordained. In his early 50s he was displaced and had a career as a diplomat.
The bishopric of Metz was intended for him from infancy, but when Bishop Charles of Lorraine died in 1607, Pope Paul V refused to appoint a young child of seven. The House of Lorraine had controlled the see since 1484, usually with a family member as bishop, which Paris was keen to bring to an end. The elderly Anne d'Escars de Givry, bishop of Lisieux, was appointed as placeholder bishop, and Henri was given an expectative appointment, in effect a reservation, plus a pension from the revenues, until he reached adult age.[2] Pope Paul V agreed to appoint him in 1612, after the death of d'Escars, at the request of Louis XIII, despite Henri being only 11 and not ordained. He was never ordained and never resided at Metz, appointing deputies to run diocesan affairs.[2]
He resigned as bishop in favour of Cardinal Mazarin in 1652, a move Pope Innocent X did not recognize. He was declared dismissed by Pope Alexander VII in 1659.[2] He was knighted on 31 December 1661 and created duke of Verneuil in 1663. In 1665 he became ambassador to England and in 1666 was made governor of Languedoc. He married Charlotte (1622-1704), daughter of the chancellor Pierre Séguier and widow of Maximilien François de Bethune, 2nd Duke of Sully (1614–1661), on 29 October 1668, when he was 67 and she 46. He died without issue on 28 May 1682 at Château de Verneuil.
^ abcLes évêques dans l’histoire de la France, p264, Jean Julg, 2004, ISBN2740311354
Sourcesedit
Cook, Harold J. (2018). The Young Descartes: Nobility, Rumor, and War. University of Chicago Press.
May 13, 2024
henri, duke, verneuil, gaston, henri, bourbon, duke, verneuil, november, 1601, 1682, bishop, metz, from, 1612, 1652, despite, being, ordained, early, displaced, career, diplomat, bishop, metzin, office, 1612, 1652duke, verneuilin, office, 1663, 1682personal, d. Gaston Henri de Bourbon Duke of Verneuil 3 November 1601 28 May 1682 was the bishop of Metz from 1612 to 1652 despite not being ordained In his early 50s he was displaced and had a career as a diplomat Henri Duke of VerneuilBishop of MetzIn office 1612 1652Duke of VerneuilIn office 1663 1682Personal detailsBorn3 November 1601Chateau de VincennesDied28 May 1682ParentsHenry IV of France father Catherine Henriette de Balzac d Entragues mother Portrait as bishop Contents 1 Biography 2 Ancestry 3 References 4 SourcesBiography editHenri was born in the Chateau de Vincennes on 3 November 1601 the illegitimate son of King Henry IV of France and his mistress Catherine Henriette de Balzac d Entragues 1 He was declared legitimate in 1603 at the age of two His sister was Gabrielle Angelique called Mlle de Verneuil 1603 1627 married Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette His half siblings included King Louis XIII of France Christine of France Duchess of Savoy and Cesar Duke of Vendome The bishopric of Metz was intended for him from infancy but when Bishop Charles of Lorraine died in 1607 Pope Paul V refused to appoint a young child of seven The House of Lorraine had controlled the see since 1484 usually with a family member as bishop which Paris was keen to bring to an end The elderly Anne d Escars de Givry bishop of Lisieux was appointed as placeholder bishop and Henri was given an expectative appointment in effect a reservation plus a pension from the revenues until he reached adult age 2 Pope Paul V agreed to appoint him in 1612 after the death of d Escars at the request of Louis XIII despite Henri being only 11 and not ordained He was never ordained and never resided at Metz appointing deputies to run diocesan affairs 2 He resigned as bishop in favour of Cardinal Mazarin in 1652 a move Pope Innocent X did not recognize He was declared dismissed by Pope Alexander VII in 1659 2 He was knighted on 31 December 1661 and created duke of Verneuil in 1663 In 1665 he became ambassador to England and in 1666 was made governor of Languedoc He married Charlotte 1622 1704 daughter of the chancellor Pierre Seguier and widow of Maximilien Francois de Bethune 2nd Duke of Sully 1614 1661 on 29 October 1668 when he was 67 and she 46 He died without issue on 28 May 1682 at Chateau de Verneuil Ancestry editAncestors of Henri Duke of Verneuil16 Francis Count of Vendome8 Charles Duke of Vendome17 Marie of Luxembourg4 Antoine of Navarre18 Rene Duke of Alencon9 Francoise of Alencon19 Margaret of Lorraine2 Henry IV of France20 John III of Navarre10 Henry II of Navarre21 Catherine of Navarre5 Jeanne III of Navarre22 Charles Count of Angouleme11 Marguerite of Angouleme23 Louise of Savoy1 Henri Duke of Verneuil24 Pierre de Balzac baron d Entragues12 Guillaume de Balzac seigneur d Entragues25 Anne Malet de Graville dame de Montagu et du Bois Malesherbes6 Francois de Balzac seigneur d Entragues26 Jean II seigneur d Humieres13 Louise d Humieres27 Francoise dame de Contay3 Catherine Henriette de Balzac d Entragues28 Pierre Touchet14 Jean Touchet29 Marie L Age7 Marie Touchet dame de Belleville30 Orable Mathy15 Marie MathyReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henri Duke of Verneuil Cook 2018 p 159 a b c Les eveques dans l histoire de la France p264 Jean Julg 2004 ISBN 2740311354Sources editCook Harold J 2018 The Young Descartes Nobility Rumor and War University of Chicago Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henri Duke of Verneuil amp oldid 1161871918, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
