Ramón José de Arce
Encyclopedia
Ramón José de Arce y Rebollar (1757 – 1844) was a Spanish
churchman who served as Archbishop of Burgos from 1797 to 1801; as Grand Inquisitor
of the Spanish Inquisition
from 1797 to 1808; as Archbishop of Zaragoza from 1800 to 1816; and as Patriarch of the West Indies
from 1806 to 1815.
. After university he became an official in the Finance Ministry of the Real Junta de Juros. He then became a member of the Council of Castile
.
He was appointed Archbishop of Burgos on December 18, 1797, and was appointed Grand Inquisitor
of the Spanish Inquisition
at the same time. He was consecrated as a bishop
on March 4, 1798. He was translated
to the Archbishopric of Zaragoza on July 20, 1801. He was appointed Patriarch of the West Indies
on August 26, 1806.
Spain was invaded by the First French Empire
in 1808, becoming a client state of the French Empire
. A series of sermons that Arce delivered during the occupation were widely believed to be pro-French. As such, after Spain regained its independence during the Peninsular War
in 1814, there was pressure on Arce to resign. He resigned his archbishopric and patriarchate on July 15, 1816. He subsequently lived in exile in Paris
, where he died on February 16, 1844.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
churchman who served as Archbishop of Burgos from 1797 to 1801; as Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor is the lead official of an Inquisition. The most famous Inquisitor General is the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.-List of Spanish Grand Inquisitors:-Castile:-Aragon:...
of the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
from 1797 to 1808; as Archbishop of Zaragoza from 1800 to 1816; and as Patriarch of the West Indies
Patriarch of the West Indies
The Titular Patriarchate of the West Indies is a Latin Rite Titular Patriarchate of the Roman Catholic Church. It is vacant since the death of its last holder in 1963.-Attempt to create a jurisdictional Patriarchate in the Spanish Indies:...
from 1806 to 1815.
Biography
Ramón José de Arce was born in Selaya, Cantabria in 1757. He was educated at the Colegio Mayor de Cuenca of the University of SalamancaUniversity of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
. After university he became an official in the Finance Ministry of the Real Junta de Juros. He then became a member of the Council of Castile
Council of Castile
The Council of Castile , known earlier as the Royal Council , was a ruling body and key part of the domestic government of the Crown of Castile, second only to the monarch himself. It was established under Queen Isabella I in 1480 as the chief body dealing with administrative and judicial matters...
.
He was appointed Archbishop of Burgos on December 18, 1797, and was appointed Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor is the lead official of an Inquisition. The most famous Inquisitor General is the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.-List of Spanish Grand Inquisitors:-Castile:-Aragon:...
of the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
at the same time. He was consecrated as a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on March 4, 1798. He was translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to the Archbishopric of Zaragoza on July 20, 1801. He was appointed Patriarch of the West Indies
Patriarch of the West Indies
The Titular Patriarchate of the West Indies is a Latin Rite Titular Patriarchate of the Roman Catholic Church. It is vacant since the death of its last holder in 1963.-Attempt to create a jurisdictional Patriarchate in the Spanish Indies:...
on August 26, 1806.
Spain was invaded by the First French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
in 1808, becoming a client state of the French Empire
Kingdom of Spain (Napoleonic)
The Kingdom of Spain was a short-lived client state of the First French Empire that briefly existed during the Peninsular War, a contest between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars...
. A series of sermons that Arce delivered during the occupation were widely believed to be pro-French. As such, after Spain regained its independence during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
in 1814, there was pressure on Arce to resign. He resigned his archbishopric and patriarchate on July 15, 1816. He subsequently lived in exile 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...
, where he died on February 16, 1844.