François de Sourdis
Encyclopedia
François d'Escoubleau de Sourdis (25 October 1574 – 1628) was a French Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of Bordeaux and founder of the Irish College there in 1603.
, the eldest son of François d'Escoubleau and Isabeau Babou de la Bourdasière. His father was seigneur of Jouy
, Aunau and Montdoubleau, marquis d'Alluye, and governor of Chartres
, and François himself held the title of Count of La Chapelle.
As the eldest son, he was not initially destined for a career in the church. He studied humanities at the Collège de Navarre in Paris, fought in the siege of Chartres (1591) and was engaged to marry Catherine Hurault de Cheverny, daughter of the royal chancellor Philippe Hurault. During a visit to Rome, he met Federico Borromeo
and Filippo Neri and decided to enter the church. He was named abbot commendatario of Preuilly
, of Montréal
, and of Aubrac
(1597-1600) and created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 3, 1599 by Pope Clement VIII
.
With the aid of a dispensation for being under the required age, he was elected archbishop of Bordeaux
and primate of Aquitane on July 5, 1599. He was consecrated on December 21, 1599, at St. Germain des Près
, Paris, by Cardinal François de Joyeuse
, archbishop of Toulouse, and received the cardinal's hat
almost exactly one year later (December 20, 1600).
In Bordeaux, de Sourdis embarked on a number of urban improvements such as draining swampy areas of the city, renovating the medieval Archbishop's Palace, ordering enhancements to the chapel of Saint Michael's Basilica
, and building the Cloister of the Cordeliers in the town of Saint-André-de-Cubzac
(which today houses the local public library) and the church of Saint-Bruno of Bordeaux (1611-1620). In 1603 de Sourdis welcomed Reverend Dermit MacCarthy, a priest of the Diocese of Cork
, and forty companions, who formed the core of the new Irish College at the University of Bordeaux
.
In 1605 he became coadjutor, with right of succession, of his uncle Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis, bishop of Mallezais, and in 1607 he had the honor of baptizing the duke of Orléans, second son of King Henry IV of France
. In 1615, he officiated at the wedding of Elisabeth of France with Infant Felipe (future Philip IV of Spain
), and of Louis XIII, king of France, with Infanta Anne of Austria, Felipe's sister, in St. Andrew's Cathedral.
He was succeeded as Archbishop at his death by his brother, Henri de Sourdis
.
Biography
He was born at Châtillon-sur-Sèvre in PoitouPoitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
, the eldest son of François d'Escoubleau and Isabeau Babou de la Bourdasière. His father was seigneur of Jouy
Jouy
-Communes in France:*Jouy, Eure-et-Loir, in the Eure-et-Loir département*Jouy, Yonne, in the Yonne département*Jouy-aux-Arches, in the Moselle département*Jouy-en-Argonne, in the Meuse département*Jouy-en-Josas, in the Yvelines département...
, Aunau and Montdoubleau, marquis d'Alluye, and governor of Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
, and François himself held the title of Count of La Chapelle.
As the eldest son, he was not initially destined for a career in the church. He studied humanities at the Collège de Navarre in Paris, fought in the siege of Chartres (1591) and was engaged to marry Catherine Hurault de Cheverny, daughter of the royal chancellor Philippe Hurault. During a visit to Rome, he met Federico Borromeo
Federico Borromeo
Federico Borromeo was an Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal and archbishop of Milan.-Biography:Federico Borromeo was born in Milan as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borromeo, Count of Arona, and Margherita Trivulzio...
and Filippo Neri and decided to enter the church. He was named abbot commendatario of Preuilly
Preuilly
Preuilly may refer to the following places in France:*Preuilly, Cher, a commune in the department of Cher*Preuilly-sur-Claise, a commune in the department of Indre-et-Loire*Preuilly-la-Ville, a commune in the department of Indre...
, of Montréal
Montréal, Aude
Montréal is a commune just south of Carcassonne in the Aude department, a part of the ancient Languedoc province and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, and of Aubrac
Aubrac
Aubrac is a town in the southern Massif Central of France. The name is also applied to the surrounding landscape, which is properly called L'Aubrac in French. The Aubrac region has been a member of the Natura 2000 network since August 2006...
(1597-1600) and created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 3, 1599 by Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
.
With the aid of a dispensation for being under the required age, he was elected archbishop of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
and primate of Aquitane on July 5, 1599. He was consecrated on December 21, 1599, at St. Germain des Près
Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, just beyond the outskirts of early medieval Paris, was the burial place of Merovingian kings of Neustria...
, Paris, by Cardinal François de Joyeuse
François de Joyeuse
François de Joyeuse was a French churchman and politician.Born at Carcassonne, François de Joyeuse was the second son of Guillaume de Joyeuse and Marie Eléanor de Batarnay. As the younger son of a seigneur in an intensely religious family of bishops and soldiers, he was destined for a career in...
, archbishop of Toulouse, and received the cardinal's hat
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
almost exactly one year later (December 20, 1600).
In Bordeaux, de Sourdis embarked on a number of urban improvements such as draining swampy areas of the city, renovating the medieval Archbishop's Palace, ordering enhancements to the chapel of Saint Michael's Basilica
Saint Michael's Basilica, Bordeaux
The Basilica of St. Michael, Bordeaux, is a Flamboyant Gothic church in Bordeaux, France, built between the end of 14th century and the 15th century....
, and building the Cloister of the Cordeliers in the town of Saint-André-de-Cubzac
Saint-André-de-Cubzac
Saint-André-de-Cubzac is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in south-western France.-Population:-Personalities:Jacques-Yves Cousteau is buried in the Cousteau family plot.It is also the birthplace of Jean Marie Antoine de Lanessan....
(which today houses the local public library) and the church of Saint-Bruno of Bordeaux (1611-1620). In 1603 de Sourdis welcomed Reverend Dermit MacCarthy, a priest of the Diocese of Cork
Diocese of Cork
The Diocese of Cork was established in the seventh century. The diocese of Cork was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail on an ancient bishopric founded by Saint Finbarr in the sixth-century...
, and forty companions, who formed the core of the new Irish College at the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
.
In 1605 he became coadjutor, with right of succession, of his uncle Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis, bishop of Mallezais, and in 1607 he had the honor of baptizing the duke of Orléans, second son of King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
. In 1615, he officiated at the wedding of Elisabeth of France with Infant Felipe (future Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
), and of Louis XIII, king of France, with Infanta Anne of Austria, Felipe's sister, in St. Andrew's Cathedral.
He was succeeded as Archbishop at his death by his brother, Henri de Sourdis
Henri de Sourdis
Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis was a French naval commander and Archbishop of Bordeaux.Like many churchmen of his day, de Sourdis was a military man as well as a prelate. He fought in the Thirty Years' War and in 1628 served as commander of the artillery at the Siege of La Rochelle...
.