Pierre Richier
Encyclopedia
Pierre Richier, also Pierre Richer, dit de Lisle, (circa 1506-1580) was a French Calvinist theologian, who accompanied Philippe de Corguilleray
on a French expedition to Brazil in 1556, to reinforce the colony of France Antarctique
. He was a member of a contingent of 14 Calvinist people dispatched from Geneva
. He later became the main actor in developing La Rochelle
as a Huguenot
capital.
Pierre Richer was initially ordained as a Carmelite and was from the congregation of Albi. He was a member of a Paris convent, when he fled the Order for Geneva
in 1556.
Pierre Richier accompanied Philippe de Corguilleray
to Brazil in 1556 at the request of the French soldier and explorer Villegagnon. After the failure of the expedition, Pierre Richier returned in 1558 to the city of La Rochelle
, where his preaching became very influential.
Pierre de Richier became "Ministre de l'église de la Rochelle" ("Minister of the Church of La Rochelle", also "Ministre de la parole de Dieu" or "Minister of the Word of God"), and was able to grow considerably the Huguenot presence in La Rochelle, from a small base of about 50 souls who had been secretely educated to Lutheranism
by Charles de Clermont
the previous year. La Rochelle, together with a few other cities such as Sancerre
, became the last Protestant strongholds in the French Wars of Religion
, following the failure of colonization ventures in the New World
which Gaspard de Coligny
had been promoting.
In 1561, Pierre Richier published in Genève a pamphlet against Villegagnon
's actions in Brazil
, entitled "Réfutation des folles resveries, excecrable blasphèmes, erreurs et mensonges de Nicolas Durand, qui se nomme Villagagnon".
In La Rochelle, Pierre Richier virulently preached against the subversion of the January 1562 Edicts of toleration
by Charles IX of France
and Catherine de' Medici
. He had been described, by Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière
, as "le père de l'église de La Rochelle" ("The Father of the Church of La Rochelle").
Pierre Richier died in La Rochelle in 1580.
Philippe de Corguilleray
Philippe de Corguilleray, Sieur du Pont, was a Burgundian nobleman who is known for leading a group of Calvinist men from Geneva to the French colony of France Antarctique in Brazil in 1556...
on a French expedition to Brazil in 1556, to reinforce the colony of France Antarctique
France Antarctique
France Antarctique was a French colony south of the Equator, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which existed between 1555 and 1567, and had control over the coast from Rio de Janeiro to Cabo Frio...
. He was a member of a contingent of 14 Calvinist people dispatched from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. He later became the main actor in developing La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
as a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
capital.
Pierre Richer was initially ordained as a Carmelite and was from the congregation of Albi. He was a member of a Paris convent, when he fled the Order for Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1556.
Pierre Richier accompanied Philippe de Corguilleray
Philippe de Corguilleray
Philippe de Corguilleray, Sieur du Pont, was a Burgundian nobleman who is known for leading a group of Calvinist men from Geneva to the French colony of France Antarctique in Brazil in 1556...
to Brazil in 1556 at the request of the French soldier and explorer Villegagnon. After the failure of the expedition, Pierre Richier returned in 1558 to the city of La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
, where his preaching became very influential.
Pierre de Richier became "Ministre de l'église de la Rochelle" ("Minister of the Church of La Rochelle", also "Ministre de la parole de Dieu" or "Minister of the Word of God"), and was able to grow considerably the Huguenot presence in La Rochelle, from a small base of about 50 souls who had been secretely educated to Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
by Charles de Clermont
Charles de Clermont
Charles de Clermont, called la Fontaine, was a Protestant preacher who was active in La Rochelle in 1557.The arrival of Charles de Clermont followed a period of repression against Calvinist propagation, through the establishment of "Cours présidiaux" tribunals by Henry II...
the previous year. La Rochelle, together with a few other cities such as Sancerre
Sancerre
Sancerre is a medieval hilltop town , commune and canton in the Cher department of central France overlooking the Loire River. It is noted for its wine.-History:...
, became the last Protestant strongholds in the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
, following the failure of colonization ventures in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
which Gaspard de Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny , Seigneur de Châtillon, was a French nobleman and admiral, best remembered as a disciplined Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion.-Ancestry:...
had been promoting.
In 1561, Pierre Richier published in Genève a pamphlet against Villegagnon
Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon
Nicolas Durand, sieur de Villegaignon, also Villegagnon was a Commander of the Knights of Malta, and later a French naval officer who attempted to help the Huguenots in France escape persecution.A notable public figure in his time, Villegaignon was a mixture of soldier,...
's actions in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, entitled "Réfutation des folles resveries, excecrable blasphèmes, erreurs et mensonges de Nicolas Durand, qui se nomme Villagagnon".
In La Rochelle, Pierre Richier virulently preached against the subversion of the January 1562 Edicts of toleration
Edict of Saint-Germain
The Edict of Saint-Germain, also known as the Edict of January, was a decree of tolerance promulgated by the regent, Catherine de' Medici, in January 1562. It provided limited tolerance of Protestantism in her Roman Catholic realms, especially in relation to the French Huguenots.It was among...
by Charles IX of France
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
and Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
. He had been described, by Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière
Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière
Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière , was a Gascon writer and historian. He was a Protestant, and took part in the Wars of Religion on the Huguenot side...
, as "le père de l'église de La Rochelle" ("The Father of the Church of La Rochelle").
Pierre Richier died in La Rochelle in 1580.