Bernard d'Albi

Last updated
Cardinal

Bernard d'Albi
Cardinal-Bishop
Cardinal galero with fiocchi.svg
Church S. Cyriaco in Thermis (1338-1349)
DioceseRodez (1336-1338)
Porto (1349-1350)
Orders
Created cardinal18 December 1338
by Pope Benedict XII
Personal details
Born
Saverdun, Pamiers, France
Died26 May 1350
Avignon, France
NationalityFrench
OccupationCourtier, diplomat
ProfessionCatholic prelate

Bernard d'Albi was a French cardinal of the 14th century. He was born at Saverdun in the diocese of Pamiers in the foothills of the Pyrenees, south of Toulouse [1] and died on 23 November 1350 at Avignon.

Contents

Biography

Bernard d'Albi held a licenciate in Canon Law, and was a papal Chaplain. He was Dean of the Cathedral of Beauvais when he was appointed Bishop of Rodez on 31 January 1336 by Pope Benedict XII. [2]

Benedict (Jacques Fournier) had been Bishop of Pamiers (1317-1327) before his appointment as a cardinal. He made his formal entry into Rodez on 15 August 1336. [3] Bernard held the episcopal seat until he was promoted to the cardinalate in 1338. By a statute which he issued on 26 October 1336, Bishop Bernard reserved half of the fruits of the vacant benefices in the diocese which were in his gift, "...because of the extreme necessity and poverty of the fabric of the Church of Rodez." [4]

In other words, the cathedral was in serious need of repair, and the only source of funds was the Bishop's treasury, where he collected the income from vacant benefices. Bishop Bernard's successor was appointed on 27 January 1339. [5] While Bishop of Rodez, Bernard received the dedication of Raimundus Acgerii's Commentary on Aristotle's Politics. [6] Pierre de Corveheda also dedicated a work to the Bishop of Rodez, his commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. [7]

In 1337, Pope Benedict appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Aragon, Castile and Portugal, with the mission of ending the hostility between King Alfonso XI of Castile and King Afonso IV of Portugal. His written instructions are dated 16 June 1337. [8]

On 18 December 1338, Pope Benedict XII held a Consistory for the creation of cardinals. Bernard d'Albi was one of the seven prelates created cardinals. He was not present in Avignon, and therefore the Pope wrote him a letter on 19 December, informing him of his promotion. [9] He was still in Spain, and did not return to Avignon until 2 August 1339. [10] He was appointed Cardinal-Priest of S. Cyriaco in Thermis (1338-1349).[ citation needed ]

On 16 February 1339, the new Cardinal Bernard was granted as a benefice the Priory of Sorzac in Poitiers. On the same day he was also granted the Benedictine Priory of Donchereio (Donchery, in the Ardennes) in the diocese of Reims, a dependency of S. Medard in Soissons. He was also named Provost of the Benedictine abbey of Faveriis in the diocese of Soissons. He was appointed Archdeacon Major of the church of Tarragona, governed by the Rule of S. Augustine. Finally, he was appointed Canon, Prebendary, and Archdeacon of the church of Saintes. In each case he was granted a dispensation because he was being granted multiple benefices in Saintes, Reims, Soissons, and Tarragona. [11] The income from these benefices was intended to support the lifestyle of a cardinal at the Papal Court; the work of the various offices was performed by delegates and agents.

Cardinal Bernard d'Albi, often called the Cardinal of Rodez, participated in the Conclave of 1342. The Conclave began on Sunday, 5 May 1342, and concluded on Tuesday 7 May, with the election of Pierre Roger, who was crowned on Pentecost Sunday, 19 May 1342. under the name Pope Clement VI. [12]

In 1343, Cardinal Bernard d'Albi was sent to Spain again, to deal with the war that had broken out between James III of Majorca and his cousin Peter IV of Aragon. [13]

In 1346, Pope Clement VI was involved in a dispute with Archbishop Heinrich von Virneburg, Archbishop of Mainz and Imperial Elector, the real reason being Heinrich's support for the candidacy of Ludwig the Bavarian as Emperor, which the Pope opposed. Clement, however, chose to believe that Heinrich was schismatic, and summoned him to appear at the Court of Rome in Avignon. Heinrich, of course, refused, or, in Clement's view 'was contumacious', and therefore Clement handed his case over to Cardinal Bernard d'Albi as Assessor litterarum contradictarum (judge) to conduct the inquiry and determine the facts, though the papal language leaves no doubt that the expected outcome would be 'guilty as charged'. Heinrich was convicted and deposed on 7 April 1346. [14] On 22 April Bernard d'Albi was present, along with eleven other cardinals, at the oath-taking of Charles of Moravia as Emperor. [15]

Cardinal Bernard was a friend of Petrarch, and believed himself to be a poet. Petrarch was only mildly enthusiastic. They exchanged letters. [16] On one occasion Petrarch sent Bernard a manuscript containing Servius' "Commentary on Vergil's Aeneid. [17]

He was promoted to the Order of Cardinal-Bishops on 19 January 1349, succeeding Cardinal Jean-Raymond de Comminges as Bishop of Porto. [18]

He died on 13 November 1350 in Avignon. He was buried in the Chapel of Benedict XII in the Cathedral of S. Marie de Domps. [19]

Related Research Articles

Pope Clement VI Head of the Catholic Church from 1342 to 1352

Pope Clement VI, born Pierre Roger, was head of the Catholic Church from 7 May 1342 to his death in 1352. He was the fourth Avignon pope. Clement reigned during the first visitation of the Black Death (1348–1350), during which he granted remission of sins to all who died of the plague.

Pope Urban V Head of the Catholic Church from 1362 to 1370

Pope Urban V, born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the only Avignon pope to be beatified.

Gui de Maillesec

Guy de Malsec was a French bishop and cardinal. He was born at the family's fief at Malsec (Maillesec), in the diocese of Tulle. He had two sisters, Berauda and Agnes, who both became nuns at the Monastery of Pruliano (Pruilly) in the diocese of Carcassonne, and two nieces Heliota and Florence, who became nuns at the Monastery of S. Prassede in Avignon. He was a nephew of Pope Gregory XI, or perhaps a more distant relative. He was also a nephew of Pope Innocent VI. Guy was baptized in the church of S. Privatus, some 30 km southeast of Tulle. He played a part in the election of Benedict XIII of the Avignon Obedience in 1394, in his status as second most senior cardinal. He played an even more prominent role in Benedict's repudiation and deposition. Guy de Malsec was sometimes referred to as the 'Cardinal of Poitiers' (Pictavensis) or the 'Cardinal of Palestrina' (Penestrinus).

Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord (cardinal)

Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord was a French Cardinal, from one of the most aristocratic families in Périgord, south-west France. Hélie was born at Périgueux, third son of Elias VII, Count of Périgord, and Brunissende of Foix, daughter of Roger Bernard III, comte de Foix. His elder brothers were Archambaud (IV), who inherited the County, and Roger-Bernard ; his younger brother was Fortanier, and his sisters were Agnes, Jeanne, Marguerite, and Rosemburge. As a third son Hélie was destined for an ecclesiastical career. His brother, Roger Bernard, too, had an ecclesiastical career, becoming Canon of Lyon. But then, the eldest son died, and Roger-Bernard became the Count of Périgord. Hélie became a major figure in the Avignon papacy, and also a diplomat engaged in the negotiations of the Hundred Years' War, having friendships in both English and French royal families. In his last months he had been appointed Papal Legate for a crusade against the Turks.

Pierre Desprès

Pierre Desprès (1288–1361) was a French Cardinal during the period of the Avignon Papacy.

Bertrand du Pouget

Bertrand du Pouget was a French papal diplomat and Cardinal.

Andouin Aubert

Audouin Aubert was a French jurist, bishop and Cardinal.

Bertrand des Bordes

Bertrand des Bordes was a bishop of the Diocese of Albi and Roman Catholic Cardinal. He served as Chamberlain of Pope Clement V from 1307 to 1311.

Guy of Boulogne

Guy of Boulogne was a statesman and cardinal who served the Avignon Papacy for 33 years. He participated in the papal conclaves of 1352, 1362 and 1370, and was the Subdean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. His diplomatic postings were extensive, including Hungary, Italy, and Spain. He headed an effort to end the Hundred Years' War. The historian Kenneth Setton called him "one of the commanding figures of his day, and the letters of Petrarch abound with references to him".

Pope Benedict XII created six new cardinals in one consistory celebrated on 18 December 1338:

  1. Gozzio Battaglia, patriarch of Constantinople – cardinal-priest of S. Prisca, † 10 June 1348
  2. Bertrand de Déaulx, archbishop of Embrun – cardinal-priest of S. Marco, then cardinal-bishop of Sabina, † 21 October 1355
  3. Pierre Roger, O.S.B., archbishop of Rouen – cardinal-priest of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, became Pope Clement VI on 7 May 1342, † 6 December 1352
  4. Guillaume de Court, O.Cist., bishop of Albi – cardinal-priest of SS. IV Coronati, then cardinal-bishop of Tusculum, † 12 June 1361
  5. Bernard d'Albi, bishop of Rodez – cardinal-priest of S. Ciriaco alle Terme, then cardinal-bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, † 23 November 1350
  6. Guillaume d'Aure, O.S.B., abbot of Montolieu – cardinal-priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio, † 3 December 1353
Gaillard de la Mothe

Gaillard de La Mothe was a fourteenth-century prelate and Cardinal, of Gascon extraction. Gaillard was born towards the end of the 13th century, either in Toulouse or Bordeaux, and died in Avignon on 20 December 1356. He was the son of Amanieu Levieux de La Motte, seigneur of Roquetaillade. His mother was Elips (Alix) de Got, daughter of Arnaud-Garsale de Got, brother of Bertrand de Got. He was therefore a nephew of Pope Clement V. Gaillard had a brother, Bertrand. Another uncle, his father's brother, Guillaume de la Mothe, was Bishop of Bazas from 1303-1313, when he was transferred to Saintes, and again from 1318 to 1319.

Nicolas de Besse

Nicolas de Besse was born in the diocese of Limoges, in 1322. He was a French bishop and Cardinal. He was the son of Jacques de Besse, Seigneur de Bellefaye and Almodie (Delphine) Roger, sister of Pope Clement VI. He had a brother Pierre de Besse, who became Seigneur de Bellefaye and who married Margueritte de Thiers. Nicolas de Besse died in Rome on 5 November 1369.

Guillaume dAure

Guillaume d'Aure, OSB, was born in Toulouse, France and died on 3 December 1353 in Avignon. He was a French Benedictine monk and Cardinal. He was the son of Bernard VII Dodon, Count of Comminges, and Bertrande, Countess d'Aure, daughter of Arnaud, Vicomte de l'Arboust. He had a brother, Raymond Roger d'Aure.

Imbert du Puy French Cardinal of the fourteenth century

Imbert du Puy was a French Cardinal of the fourteenth century. He was a nephew of Pope John XXII.

Bertrand de Déaulx

Bertrand de Déaulx was a French bishop, diplomat and Cardinal. He was born, perhaps around 1290, in Castrum de Blandiaco in the diocese of Uzès; or in Déaulx. He died in Avignon in 1355. Trained as a lawyer and teacher of law, he practiced in the papal courts, and became an arbitrator and diplomat for the Papacy. He had several assignments in Italy and one in Catalonia. He was responsible for the reorganization of the University of Montpellier and the granting of revised charters.

Pasteur de Sarrats

Pasteur de Sarrats was a French Franciscan friar, bishop and Cardinal. He was born in the village of Aubenas in the Vivarais, or he took his monastic vows in the monastery of Aubenas. Pasteur may have had a brother. A bull of Benedict XII, dated 13 April 1337, grants the parish church of S. Martin de Valle Gorgia in the diocese of Viviers to Pierre de Serraescuderio, Canon of Viviers since 1333, who held a parish of S. Pierre de Melon in the diocese of Uzès. Pasteur died in Avignon in 1356.

Raymond de Canillac

Raymond de Canillac was a French lawyer, bishop, and cardinal. He was born at Roche de Canilhac, the family castle, in the diocese of Mende in the Gevaudan in central France, the son of Guillaume de Canillac and a sister of Cardinal Bertrand de Déaulx. Both of his uncles, Pons and Guy, were successively abbots of Aniane, as was a nephew of the Cardinal, also called Pons. In 1345 his niece Garine, the daughter of his brother Marquis and of Alixène de Poitiers-Valentinois, married Guillaume Roger, Vicount of Beaufort, the brother of Cardinal Pierre Roger de Beaufort, who became Pope Clement VI. Raymond became a member of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine (CRSA). He studied law at the University of Montpellier, and obtained the degree of Doctor in utroque iure.

Pierre de Thury

Pierre de Thury was a French bishop and cardinal of the Avignon Obedience, who served as a royal secretary and Master of Requests, and then as papal Nuncio and Apostolic Legate on several occasions. He participated in two papal elections, those of 1394 and 1409, and was a prominent member of the Council of Pisa in 1409.

Niccolò Brancaccio Catholic cardinal

Niccolò Brancaccio was born in the Kingdom of Naples, perhaps in Naples itself. He was Archbishop of Bari and then Archbishop of Cosenza, while serving in the Roman Curia in Avignon. He became a cardinal of the Avignon Obedience in 1378, and was Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere and then Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He participated in the Council of Pisa in 1409, and was one of the electors of Pope Alexander V and of Pope John XXIII.

Pierre Girard (cardinal)

Pierre Girard was born in the commune of Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise, in the Department of Rhone, once in the ancient County of Forez. He died in Avignon on 9 November 1415. He was Bishop of Lodeve and then Bishop of Le Puy. He was a cardinal of the Avignon Obedience during the Great Western Schism, and was promoted to the Bishopric of Tusculum (Frascati). His principal work, however, was as a courtier and administrator at Avignon, and as a papal diplomat.

References

  1. For other conjectures, see Baluze (1693), I, p. 820 [ed. Mollat (1927), II, pg. 324].
  2. Duchesne, "Histoire", p. 486, says that it was Philip VI de Valois (1328-1350) who procured him the bishopric as well as the cardinalate, and that Bernard had previously been a Councillor of Philip V (1316-1322) and Charles IV (1322-1328).
  3. L. Charles Paul Bosc (1905). Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire du Rouergue (in French) (third (reissue of second) ed.). Rodez: E. Carrère. p.  277.
  4. Louis Bion de Marlavagne (1875). Histoire de la Cathédrale de Rodez: avec pièces justificatives (in French). Paris: Didron. p.  38.
  5. Eubel, p. 427.
  6. Lambertini, Roberto (2002). "Raimundus Acgerii's Commentary on Aristotle's "Politics": Some Notes". Vivarium. 40 (1): 14–40, at p. 36. doi:10.1163/15685340260223931. JSTOR   41975530.
  7. Sère, Bénédicte (2005). "De la vérité en amitié. Une phénoménologie médiévale du sentiment dans les commentairesde l'Éthique à Nicomaque (XIII e - XV e siècle)". Revue historique. 636 (4): 793–820, at p. 799. doi:10.3917/rhis.054.0793. JSTOR   40957652.
  8. Baluze (1693) I, pg. 820. In Mollat's edition, Vol. II (1927), at pg. 324, with n. 3. Mollat, however, is confused in the note about the Kings of Castile; it was not Pedro the Cruel who was having problems with his wife, since he was only four years old.
  9. Eubel, pg. 17 and n. 12.
  10. J.-M. Vidal (1906). Benoît XII: Lettres communes (in French and Latin). Vol. Tome deuxième. Paris: Fontemoing. p. 431.
  11. J.-M Vidal, pp. 138–139, nos. 6614, 6616–6619.
  12. J. P. Adams, Sede Vacante 1342. Retrieved: 2016-06-19.
  13. Juan de Ferreras; Vaquette d' Hermilly (1751). Histoire generale d'Espagne (in French). Vol. Tome cinquième. Paris: Chez Gissey. pp. 199–200.
  14. Cesare Baronio (ed. A. Theiner) Annales Ecclesiastici Vol. 25 (Bar-le-Duc 1872), p. 377, under the year 1346, § 12-18.
  15. Baluze (1693), I, p. 821. Baronio (ed. Theiner) Volume 25, p. 375, § 19.
  16. Frédéric Fuzet (1874). Pétrarque: ses voyages, ses amis, son repentir (in French). Ile Saint Honorat: Typographie des Moines de Lérins. p. 119.
  17. Baluze (1693), I, p. 822.
  18. Eubel, p. 37.
  19. L. Duhamel (1888). Le tombeau de Benoît XII à la métropole d'Avignon (in French). Caen: Delesques. pp. 4–5.

Bibliography