Roman Catholic Diocese of Alet

The former French Catholic diocese of Alet (Lat.: Electensis) was created in 1317 from territory formerly in the diocese of Narbonne. The diocese continued until the French Revolution when it was suppressed by the Concordat of 1801.^[1]

Alet-les-Bains is located in south-west France, in the current department of Aude. The diocese was divided between: diocese of Carcassonne (to which the bishopric was formally attached) the diocese of Toulouse and the diocese of Perpignan.

History

Ruins of the Abbey of Alet

In 1317, Pope John XXII engaged in a major restructuring of the episcopal organization of southern and western France. The diocese of Narbonne was very large, and it was deemed advisable to separate off the western part, the Archdeaconry of Alet, and erect it into a separate diocese. The papal bull, Sane Considerantes, issued on 20 August 1317, envisioned the creation of the new diocese with its seat at Limoux, and the promotion of the Church of Saint-Martin into a cathedral.^[2] In the next few months, however, Pope John changed his mind. On 28 (or 18) February 1318, he revoked his previous arrangements and named Alet as the site of the new bishopric; and on 1 March 1318 he appointed Bartholomaeus, the Abbot of the Monastery of Alet, and a papal nuncio, as the new bishop.^[3] His Abbey of Notre-Dame d'Alet, which followed the Rule of Saint Benedict, became the cathedral of the diocese, and its monks became Canons of the cathedral chapter.^[4] In erecting the new diocese, Pope John transferred eighty parishes from the diocese of Narbonne to Alet.^[5]

The Cathedral of Alet was served by a Chapter, composed of twelve canons. The dignities were: the Dean, the Archdeacon, the Treasurer and the Precentor. There were sixteen beneficiaries. The Chapter had the right, granted by the Papacy, to elect the bishop of Alet. The Chapter was secularized on 17 November 1531 by the papal bulla Ad Exequendum of Pope Clement VII, at the request of Bishop Guillaume de Joyeuse and at the suggestion of King Francis I. The Pope explained in the bull that the problem was twofold: the number of people seeking to become monks had greatly decreased; and the financial situation of the Chapter had severely deteriorated. At the beginning the money was sufficient to supply the needs of thirty or more monks, but in 1531 it could scarcely support seven or eight. The priories which had belonged to the Chapter had gradually been appropriated by the bishop who appointed commendatory abbots and priors, causing money to be directed away from the monastic foundations. In addition the coldness of the weather and the frequent wars, with plundering and pillaging, had diminished regular revenues. The present income could satisfy the requirements for secular dignities and canons, but could not support the entire monastic establishment.^[6] In order to place the finances of the new secular chapter on a firm footing, the Pope ordered the suppression of a number of priories in several dioceses: Notre-Dame de Peyran et de Rupefort, S. Valerius, de Varilles, de Exchalabria, and de Rupifera (all Benedictine houses); many of these were being held in commendam, but all were placed at the disposal of the Chapter.^[7]

Pope John XXII also secularized one of the monasteries in the new diocese, Saint Paul de Fenouillèdes, converting it into a Collegiate Church, administered by a Chapter composed of three dignitaries, twelve Canons and thirty semi-prebends. There were three other abbeys in the diocese: Saint Jacques de Jocou, Saint Martin de Lys and Saint Pierre.^[8]

The diocese was suppressed by the National Constituent Assembly in the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790. The territory of the diocese of Alet was incorporated into a new (republican) 'Constitutional Diocese', the Diocese of Aude, which was coterminous with the new administrative Département de l'Aude (named after a river); the new diocese included 565 parishes which had been part of the (arch)dioceses of Narbonne, Carcassonne, Alet, Saint-Papoul and Mirepoix. The headquarters of the diocese was to be Narbonne, and the Metropolitan of the Metropolitanate of the 'Métropole du Sud' was to be in Toulouse.^[9]

After the signing of the Concordat of 1801 with First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, the diocese of Alet was not revived, but abolished by Pope Pius VII in his bull Qui Christi Domini of 29 November 1801.^[10]

Bishops

Interior of church of the Abbey of Alet

The episcopal palace, Alet

• 1318–1333 ?: Barthélemy, O.S.B., Abbot Sainte-Marie d'Alet^[11]
• 1333-†1355 : Guillaume (I) d'Alzonne, O.S.B., Abbot of la Grasse^[12]
• 1355-†1363 : Guillame (II), O.S.B., Abbot of Sendras^[13]
• 1363-†1385 : Arnaud de Villars^[14]
• 1385–1386 : Cardinal Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut (Administrator)^[15]
• 1386–1390 : Robert du Bosc (Avignon Obedience)^[16]
• 1390-†1420 : Henri (I) Bayler (Avignon Obedience)^[17]
• 1421–1441 : Pierre (II) Assalbit, O.E.S.A.^[18]
• 1441–1442 : Antoine de Saint-Étienne^[19]
• 1443–1447 : Pierre (III)^[20]
• 1448–1454 : Élie de Pompadour^[21]
• 1454–1455 : Louis d'Aubusson, O.S.B.^[22]
• 1455–1460 : Ambroise de Cameraco, Abbot of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• 1461-†1468 : Antoine (I) Gobert
• 1468-†1486 : Guillaume (III.) Oliva
• 1487–1488 : Pierre (III) Hallwyn^[23]
• 1489-†1508 : Guillaume (IV.) de Rupe, Abbot of Montolieu

[Jean Dupuy, Abbot of Saint-Tibéry]^[24]

• 1508–1523 : Pierre (IV.) Raymond de Guiert, Abbot of Sorèze
• 1524–1540 : Guillaume (V.) de Joyeuse
• 1541–1559 : Guillaume VI. de Joyeuse^[25]
• 1560-†1564 : François de Lestrange^[26]
• 1565–1572? : Antoine (II.) Dax^[27]

(1572–1594) : Sede Vacante^[28]

• [1594–1603 : Christophe de L'Estang]^[29]
• 1603-†1603 : Pierre (V.) de Polverel^[30]
• 1607-1637 : Étienne de Polverel^[31]
• 1637-†1677 : Nicolas Pavillon^[32]
• 1679–1684 : Louis-Alphonse de Valbelle^[33]
• 1692–1698 : Victor-Augustin de Méliand^[34]
• 1699-1708 : Charles-Nicolas Taffoureau de Fontaine^[35]
• 1709-1723 : Jacques Maboul^[36]
• 1723-1762 : Joseph-François de Boucaud^[37]
• 1763-1793 : Charles de la Cropte de Chantérac^[38]

See also

• Catholic Church in France
• List of Catholic dioceses in France

References

1. Alet (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]^{[self-published source]}
2. Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum Romanorum pontificum Taurensis editio (in Latin). Vol. Tomus IV. Turin: Seb. Franco. 1859. pp. 247–249.
3. Bartholomeus' bull of appointment is given in Gallia christiana VI, Instrumenta, pp. 117–118.
4. Auguste Coulon (1900). Lettres secrètes & curiales du pape Jean XXII (1316-1334): relatives à la France, extaites des registres du Vatican (in French and Latin). Vol. Tome I. Paris: A. Fontemoing. pp. 490–491, no. 566, with note 1.
5. Devic and Vassete, Histoire general de Languedoc IV, p. 422.
6. Jean Forest, ed. (1752). Alamanach historique et Chronologique de Languedoc et des Provinces du Ressort du Parlement de Toulouse (in French). Toulouse: Crozat. p. 78. Gallia christiana VI, Instrumenta, pp. 117–118.
7. Gallia christiana VI, Instrumenta, pp. 119 and 121.
8. Devic and Vassete, Histoire general de Languedoc IV, p. 422. Forest, p. 78.
9. Paul Pisani (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils. p. 371.
10. Pius VI; Pius VII (1821). Collectio (per epitomen facta,) Bullarum, Brevium, Allocutionum, Epistolarumque, ... Pii VI., contra constitutionem civilem Cleri Gallicani, ejusque authores et fautores; item, Concordatorum inter ... Pium VII. et Gubernium Rei publicae, in Galliis, atque alia varia regimina, post modum in hac regione, sibi succedentia; tum expostulationum ... apud ... Pium Papam VII., Contra varia Acta, ad Ecclesiam Gallicanam, spectantia, a triginta et octo Episcopis, Archiepiscop. et Cardinal. antiquae Ecclesiae Gallicanae, subscriptarum, etc. 6 Avril, 1803 (in Latin). London: Cox & Baylis. pp. 111–121. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 206, note 1.
11. On 1 June 1318, immediately after his installation as Bishop of Alet, Barthélemy was sent by Pope John XXII to Lithuania, to evangelize King Gedeminnus, at the king's request. In 1319 he sat as an assessor on the bench of bishops who tried Bernard Delicieux. Barthélemy is last heard of in 1329. Edmond Martène; Ursin Durand (1717). Thesaurus novus anecdotorum (in Latin). Vol. Tomus primus. Paris. pp. 1349–1350. Claude Devic; J. Vaissete (1885). Histoire générale de Languedoc avec notes et pièces justificatives (in French). Vol. Tome neuvieme (9). Toulouse: Privat. p. 393. Gallia christiana VI, p. 274-275. Gams, p. 486 column 1. Eubel, I, p. 236.
12. Claude de Vic; Joseph Vaissète (1844). Histoire générale du Languedoc avec des notes et les pièces justificatives: De 1184 à 1234 environ (in French). Vol. Tome septieme (7). Toulouse: J. B. Paya. pp. "Additions et notes", p. 39.
13. Claude de Vic; Joseph Vaissète (1844). Histoire générale du Languedoc avec des notes et les pièces justificatives: De 1184 à 1234 environ (in French). Vol. Tome septieme (7). Toulouse: J. B. Paya. pp. "Additions et notes", p. 39.
14. Arnaud had previously been bishop of Mirepoix (1361–1363). He was appointed Bishop of Alet on 5 July 1363 by Pope Urban V. He participated in the provincial council at Narbonne in April 1374. Gallia christiana VI, p. 276. Gams, p. 486 column 1. Eubel, I, pp. 236, 344.
15. Petrus de Monteacuto: Eubel, I, p. 237 with note 4.
16. Robert du Bosc, a native of the Auvergne, had been Abbot of Bourg-Dieu (diocese of Bourges). He was appointed Bishop of Alet by Clement VII on 15 June 1386. He was transferred to the diocese of Couserans on 27 May 1390, and then to the diocese of Mende on 17 October 1390. He died c. 1408. Eubel, I, pp. 203, 287, 342.
17. Henri, who had been elected to the diocese of Constance, was previously Bishop of Valence (1388–1390). Even after the Council of Constance, where Pope Martin V was elected, Henri Bayler followed the obedience of Benedict XIII. Gallia christiana VI, p. 276-277. Noël Valois (1896). La France et le grand schisme d'Occident (in French). Paris: Alphonse Picard. pp. 307–308. Eubel, I, p. 237 with note 6; 513.
18. Pierre Assalbit was a native of Limoges and a nephew of Bishop Pierre Amielh de Brénac. Assalbit was previously bishop of Oleron (1418–1419), then bishop of Condom (1419–1421). Gallia christiana VI, p. 277-278. Eubel, I, p. 202, 287, 377.
19. Gams, p.486. He is not recognized by Eubel.
20. Gams, p.486. He is not recognized by Eubel.
21. Pompadour was elected on 18/19 February 1447, and issued his bulls on 24 January 1448. He was transferred to the diocese of Viviers on 29 November 1454. Gallia christiana VI, pp. 278–279. Eubel, II, pp. 149, 296.
22. Louis had been Abbot of Villa Dei. He received papal approval on 4 (or 2) December 1454. He was elected Bishop of Tulle, in succession to his deceased brother Hugh (died September 1455), and was granted papal bulls on 17 December 1455. Gallia christiana VI, pp. 278–279. Eubel, II, pp. 149, 259 with notes 1,2,3.
23. Hallwyn was a cleric of the diocese of Thérouanne, Master of Arts, and a Protonotary Apostolic. He was confirmed as bishop of Alet on 21 November 1487. He resigned in 1488. Gallia christiana VI, p. 280. Eubel, II, p. 149.
24. In the election following the death of Bishop Guillaume de Rupe, the Chapter elected Jean Dupuy and he was confirmed by the Metropolitan; he then refused the election. The Chapter then elected Pierre Raymond. But Dupuy reconsidered, and wanted to be confirmed as bishop. His desire was opposed by the King, who prevailed upon Pope Julius II to confirm Pierre Raymond, which the Pope did, on 7 July 1508. Jean Dupuy never received either the temporalities or the spiritualities of the Diocese of Alet. He maintained his pretensions until 1511, when he had to resign them in order to have his election to a new term as Abbot of Saint-Tibéry confirmed by the Papacy. Claude Devic; Joseph Vaissète (1872). Histoire générale de Languedoc avec notes et pièces justificatives... (in French). Vol. Tome quatrieme (4). Privat. p. 560. Lasserre, p. 99. Eubel, III, p. 191. notes 2 and 3.
25. Guillaume was the second son of Jean de Joyeuse, Seigneur de Saint-Sauveur, and Françoise de Voisins, baronne d'Arques. An agreement was drawn up between Bishop Guillaume de Joyeuse and his nephew of the same name, that the Bishop would renounce his diocese in favor of his nephew, who was only seventeen years old. The agreement was presented to Pope Paul III, who ratified it and granted Guillaume junior his bulls on 28 January 1541. For the next ten years the diocese was governed by the uncle, as Administrator. Guillaume junior never entered holy orders. In 1559 he attempted to arrange a resignation in favor of François de Lestrange, which was discussed by the Pope in consistory on 7 April 1559, but not finalized; it was brought up again on 17 April, but not agreed to, there being opposition. When his elder brother died, Guillaume junior renounced the clerical state, married, had three sons (one of whom became the Cardinal de Joyeuse), and became a Marshal of France. Gallia christiana VI, p. 282. Lasserre, p. 99. Eubel, III, p. 191 with note 7.
26. Lestrange (also called Lestang) was the son of Louis de Lestrange, vicomte de Ohaylane, baron de Vézénobre, and was an Aumonier of King Charles IX. François was nominated by King Francis II of France, and confirmed by Pope Pius IV on 26 January 1560. He died c. August-September 1560. Eubel, III, p. 191 with note 9.
27. Antonius Dax (d'Acqs) was one of three brothers, sons of Jean Dax, Seigneur de Leuc, de la Serpente, du Lion, d'Axat, et d'Argibues. Antoine had been a Canon and Precentor of the Cathedral Chapter, and was Abbot of Saint-Polycarpe (diocese of Narbonne) from 1529 to 1565. He served as Grand Vicar for Cardinal Charles de Bourbon-Vendôme, who was Bishop of Carcassonne 1546-1552. He was elected Bishop of Alet on 26 September 1564, and confirmed on 8 June 1565 by Pope Pius IV. Lasserre, p. 142, states that Dax died in 1572, and that, due to the Huguenots having destroyed the cathedral and driven off the Canons, an election could not be held for some time. Eubel, III, p. 193 note 11, points out that he was already a septuagenarian when appointed to the diocese of Alet on 8 June 1565, and that a successor was not appointed until 1594, there must have been a long sede vacante. Gallia christiana VI, p. 282. Louis Pierre d' Hozier; Antoine Marie d' Hozier de Sérigny (1865). Armorial général de la France (in French). Paris: Firmin Didot frères et fils. p. 187. Thomas Bouges (1741). Histoire ecclesiastique et civile de la ville et diocése de Carcassonne: avec les pièces justificatives & une notice ancienne & moderne de ce diocése (in French). Paris. p. 308.
28. Lasserre, p. 142, refers to a document from the Archives indicating that Cardinal François de Joyeuse, Archbishop of Narbonne (1581–1588) and Metropolitan of the diocese of Alet, served as Apostolic Administrator. The Papal Nuncio to France, Antonio Salviati, wrote in 1575 that the See of Alet had been vacant for a long time: Antonio Maria Salviati (1975). P. Hurtubise and R. Toupin (ed.). Correspondance du nonce en France Antonio Maria Salviati (in French and Italian). Vol. Tome II. 1574 - 1578. Rome: Gregorian Biblical BookShop. p. 354.
29. De l'Estang had previously been a priest of the diocese of Bordeaux and then bishop of Lodève (1580–1603). He received papal approval for transfer to the diocese of Alet on 5 September 1594, but he did not take possession of the diocese of Alet. He was therefore considered to still be the Bishop of Lodève, and was transferred to the diocese of Carcassonne on 26 May 1603. Gallia christiana VI, p. 282. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, pp. 181 with note 2.
30. Pierre de Polverel was the nephew of Bishop Christophe de L'Estang. His election was confirmed on 19 February 1603 by Pope Clement VIII. He died in Rome, where he had gone to expedite the issue of his bulls, on 20 August 1603. Gallia christiana VI, p. 282. Gauchat, IV, p. 181 with note 3.
31. Étienne de Polverel was the nephew of Bishop Christophe de L'Estang. His election was confirmed on 30 July 1607 by Pope Paul V, and he took possession on 24 August. He was Master of the Chapel Royal of King Louis XIII, and chief Aumonier of Queen Marie de Medicis. He died on 25 April (or 7 May) 1637. Gallia christiana VI, pp. 282–283. Lasserre, pp. 141–148. Gauchat, p. 181 with note 4.
32. Charles Hugues Lefébvre de Saint-Marc (1883). W. J. Ledward (ed.). The life of Nicholas Pavillon, bishop of Alet. London: Skeffington.
33. Valbelle was named Bishop of Alet by King Louis XIV on 25 December 1677, and preconised (approved) by Pope Innocent XI on 14 March 1678. He was subsequently named bishop of Saint-Omer by the King in 1684, but became caught up in the diplomatic rupture with the Papacy resulting from the Four Articles of 1682. He was not granted his bulls until 9 November 1693. He resigned the diocese of Alet on 19 December 1684. Jean, p. 264. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 193 with note 3.
34. Méliand had previously been bishop of Gap (1680–1692). He was nominated Bishop of Alet by King Louis XIV on 31 May 1684, but his bulls were not granted by Pope Innocent XI, and he was not preconised (approved) until 7 July 1692 by Pope Innocent XII. From 1684 to 1692 he held only the temporal power, but not the spiritual rights of the bishop of Alet. He resigned the diocese in 1698, and died in Paris on 23 September 1713. Gallia christiana VI, p. 285. Jean, p. 264. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 193 with note 4; 404 with note 3.
35. Taffoureau was born in Sens in 1655, and was a Doctor of theology (Sorbonne). He became Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Sens, and was an Official and Vicar General. He was nominated Bishop of Alet by King Louis XIV on 1 November 1698, and was preconised (approved) by Pope Innocent XII on 5 January 1699. He was consecrated on 29 March 1699 by the Archbishop of Narbonne and the two bishops of Troyes (current and former). He died in his diocese in October 1708. Charles-Louis Richard (1760). Dictionnaire universel dogmatique, canonique, historique, géographique et chronologique des sciences ecclésiastiques par le P. Richard (in French). Vol. Tome premier. Paris. p. 121. Ritzler-Sefrin, p. 193 with note 5.
36. Maboul's father, Louis, was secretary to the King, and his brother was Master of Requests. He was a bachelor in theology. He was a Vicar General in the diocese of Poitiers when he was nominated Bishop of Alet by King Louis XIV on 1 November 1708. He was preconised (approved) by Pope Clement XI on 19 February 1709, and consecrated at Agde on 13 July 1710 by Bishop Philibert-Charles de Pas de Feuquières. On 18 April 1712 he preached at the funeral of the Dauphin and Dauphine in Saint Denis. He preached at the funeral of Louis XIV in Nôtre-Dame on 28 November 1715. He died on 23 May 1723. Lasserre, pp. 176–182. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 193 with note 6.
37. Boucaud died on 6 December 1762. Jean, p. 265. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 193 with note 7.
38. Cropte was born in the diocese of Périgueux in 1723. He studied at Saint-Sulpice in Paris (M.A.), and after ten years of study became Doctor of theology (Sorbonne). He was Canon and Treasurer of the Cathedral Chapter of Noyon, and Vicar General of Autun for the district of Moulins. He was named Bishop of Alet on 1 January 1763, and preconised (approved) by Pope Clement XIII on 16 May 1763. He was consecrated in Paris on 19 June by the Archbishop of Paris, Christophe de Beaumont. He left Alet on 1 September 1792, and died in exile in Sabadell, Spain, in 1793. Jean, p. 265. Lasserre, pp. 188–209. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 206 with note 2.

Bibliography

Reference works

• Gams, Pius Bonifatius (1873). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae: quotquot innotuerunt a beato Petro apostolo. Ratisbon: Typis et Sumptibus Georgii Josephi Manz., pp. 486–487. (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)
• Gulik, Guilelmus (1923). Eubel, Conradus (ed.). Hierarchia catholica, Tomus 3 (second ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana.
• Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica IV (1592-1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1952). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi V (1667-1730). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
• Ritzler, Remigius; Sefrin, Pirminus (1958). Hierarchia catholica medii et recentis aevi VI (1730-1799). Patavii: Messagero di S. Antonio. Retrieved 6 July 2016.

Studies

• Benedictines of Saint-Maur, ed. (1739). Gallia Christiana, In Provincias Ecclesiasticas Distributa (in Latin). Vol. Tomus Sextus (6). Paris: Ex Typographia Regia.
• De Vic, Claude; Vaisette, J. (1872). Histoire generale de Languedoc. Vol. Tome quatrieme (4). Edouard Privat. pp. 422–424.
• Du Tems, Hugues (1774). Le clergé de France, ou tableau historique et chronologique des archevêques, évêques, abbés, abbesses et chefs des chapitres principaux du royaume, depuis la fondation des églises jusqu'à nos jours (in French). Vol. Tome premier. Paris: Delalain.
• Jean, Armand (1891). Les évêques et les archevêques de France depuis 1682 jusqu'à 1801 (in French). Paris: A. Picard.
• Lasserre, Joseph Théodore (1877). Recherches historiques sur la ville d'Alet et son ancien diocèse (in French). Carcassonne: J. Parer. p. 243.

42.9956°N 2.2557°E / 42.9956; 2.2557