Nicolas de Thou
Encyclopedia
Nicolas de Thou was an eminent French
cleric, Bishop of Chartres, and in politics a figure instrumental in the coronation of Henry IV of France
, the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France
.
De Thou was born in Paris
, a son of Augustin de Thou (d. 1544), Président of the Parlement de Paris, brother to Christophe de Thou
(1508–82), who became Premier Président of the Parlement de Paris, and later uncle to noted historian Jacques-Auguste de Thou.
De Thou became a canon of the Cathedral of Paris in 1547, and Bishop of Chartres by a bull of April 8, 1573. As Bishop, he played a prominent role in the War of the Three Henrys (1584-1598)
, in which power was transferred from Henry III of France
to Henry of Navarre, who then became Henry IV
.
His antipathy for the Catholic League
, shared by his brother, President Christophe de Thou
, made his position difficult when the people of Chartres
, who were devoted to the League, shut their gates to the troops of King Henry III
on January 17, 1589, subsequently welcomed Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne
, and recognized the aged Cardinal de Bourbon as king.
Nicholas de Thou temporized, and on April 20, 1591, received in his place Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV
. On September 21, 1591, he attended the assembly of bishops which declared "null, unjust and suggested by the malice of the enemies of France" Pope Gregory XIV
's Bull of Excommunication against Henry of Navarre, and on July 25, 1593, he assisted at Henry IV's abjuration in St.-Denis.
As Reims was still in the power of the Duke of Mayenne, Chartres was chosen for the coronation. To end the dispute with Renaud de Beaune
, Archbishop of Bourges, who had just been appointed Archbishop of Sens and who claimed the honour of anointing the king, de Thou by a skillful move had himself appointed by Nicolas de Pellevé
, the Archbishop of Reims
as his representative and was thus commissioned to proceed with the coronation. Instead of the Sainte Ampoule there was brought from Tours
a miraculous oil preserved in Marmoutier Abbey
. The anointing took place February 27, 1594, and the next day Nicolas de Thou bestowed on the king the Collar of the Order of the Holy Ghost.
De Thou died at Villebon-sur-Yvette
on November 5, 1598. He left various pastoral writings and a book entitled "Cérémonies observées au sacre et couronnement d'Henri IV, roi de France".
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cleric, Bishop of Chartres, and in politics a figure instrumental in the coronation of 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....
, the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
De Thou was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a son of Augustin de Thou (d. 1544), Président of the Parlement de Paris, brother to Christophe de Thou
Christophe de Thou
Christophe de Thou was an eminent French advocate, and the First President of the Parliament of Paris.De Thou became Président in 1554, and Premier Président on 14 December 1562, of the Parlement de Paris...
(1508–82), who became Premier Président of the Parlement de Paris, and later uncle to noted historian Jacques-Auguste de Thou.
De Thou became a canon of the Cathedral of Paris in 1547, and Bishop of Chartres by a bull of April 8, 1573. As Bishop, he played a prominent role in the War of the Three Henrys (1584-1598)
War of the Three Henrys (1584-1598)
The War of the Three Henrys was the eighth and final conflict in the series of civil wars in France known as the Wars of Religion...
, in which power was transferred from Henry III of France
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
to Henry of Navarre, who then became Henry IV
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....
.
His antipathy for the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
, shared by his brother, President Christophe de Thou
Christophe de Thou
Christophe de Thou was an eminent French advocate, and the First President of the Parliament of Paris.De Thou became Président in 1554, and Premier Président on 14 December 1562, of the Parlement de Paris...
, made his position difficult when the people 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...
, who were devoted to the League, shut their gates to the troops of King Henry III
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
on January 17, 1589, subsequently welcomed Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne
Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne
Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne , or Charles de Guise, was a French nobleman of the house of Guise and a military leader of the Catholic League, which he headed during the French Wars of Religion, following the assassination of his brothers at Blois in 1588...
, and recognized the aged Cardinal de Bourbon as king.
Nicholas de Thou temporized, and on April 20, 1591, received in his place Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV
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....
. On September 21, 1591, he attended the assembly of bishops which declared "null, unjust and suggested by the malice of the enemies of France" Pope Gregory XIV
Pope Gregory XIV
Pope Gregory XIV , born Niccolò Sfondrati, was Pope from 5 December 1590 until his death in 1591.- Early career :...
's Bull of Excommunication against Henry of Navarre, and on July 25, 1593, he assisted at Henry IV's abjuration in St.-Denis.
As Reims was still in the power of the Duke of Mayenne, Chartres was chosen for the coronation. To end the dispute with Renaud de Beaune
Renaud de Beaune
Renaud de Beaune was a French Catholic ecclesiastic.-Life:He held secular positions such as Councillor of Parliament and Chancellor of Francis of Valois, Duke of Touraine. The royal court greatly favoured him and appointed him to numerous ecclesiastical offices. In 1568, he became Bishop of Mende...
, Archbishop of Bourges, who had just been appointed Archbishop of Sens and who claimed the honour of anointing the king, de Thou by a skillful move had himself appointed by Nicolas de Pellevé
Nicolas de Pellevé
Nicolas de Pellevé was a French archbishop and Cardinal. He was a major figure of the Catholic League.He was a courtier of Henry II of France, and then of Cardinal Charles de Lorraine-Guise. He was bishop of Amiens in 1552, archbishop of Sens in 1562...
, the Archbishop of Reims
Archbishop of Reims
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
as his representative and was thus commissioned to proceed with the coronation. Instead of the Sainte Ampoule there was brought from Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
a miraculous oil preserved in Marmoutier Abbey
Marmoutier Abbey (Tours)
Marmoutier Abbey, also known as the Abbey of Marmoutier , was an early monastery outside Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France. In its later days it followed the Benedictine order as an influential monastery with many dependencies....
. The anointing took place February 27, 1594, and the next day Nicolas de Thou bestowed on the king the Collar of the Order of the Holy Ghost.
De Thou died at Villebon-sur-Yvette
Villebon-sur-Yvette
Villebon-sur-Yvette is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.The inhabitants of Villebon-sur-Yvette are known as Villebonnais.-Geography:...
on November 5, 1598. He left various pastoral writings and a book entitled "Cérémonies observées au sacre et couronnement d'Henri IV, roi de France".