Simon of Cramaud
Encyclopedia
Simon de Cramaud was a Catholic bishop, titular Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
, and cardinal during the Great Western Schism of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Simon was born before 1360 near Rochechouart
, Haute-Vienne
, a younger son in a family of minor nobles. He studied law at Orléans
and became a well-known canonist. Simon taught canon law at the University of Paris
, attracting the attention of John, Duke of Berry
, one of the uncles of King Charles VI of France
. As a counselor of the duke, Simon performed both administrative and diplomatic tasks. In 1382, he was appointed Bishop of Agen, but was transferred to Béziers
in 1383, and finally to Poitiers
in 1385. He was also appointed to Sens
in 1390, but never occupied the see — instead he became the titular Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
and Administrator of the Diocese of Avignon the following year. In 1409, he was made Archbishop of Reims
and subsequently a cardinal in 1413. From then until his death, he served as the administrator of the Diocese of Poitiers.
Cramaud was a prominent figure in the struggles of the fourteenth-century church, and a partisan of the Avignon Papacy
. He championed Avignon Pope Clement VII, but fought Clement's successor, Benedict XIII, any way he could. He presided at the Council of Pisa
in 1409, and proclaimed the deposition of both Gregory XII and Benedict XIII, thus securing the election of Alexander V
. At the Council of Constance
, he was largely responsible for the success of its election method, which granted a vote to certain national delegates along with the cardinals. He is considered by some to be a precursor to both theological and political Gallicanism
. Simon died on 19 January 1423. He was buried at the cathedral in Poitiers, but his tomb was destroyed by Huguenots in 1562.
His treatise De substraccione obediencie (1397), offering multiple lines of reasoning for bringing the Schism to an end, was edited by Howard Kaminsky in 1984. Simon argued that Benedict's followers could withdraw obedience to compel him to seek a solution to the Schism.
Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
This is a list of The Latin Patriarchs of Alexandria established in 1215 during the pontificate of Pope Innocent III. This titular office was abolished in 1964. His patriachal seat in Rome was the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls....
, and cardinal during the Great Western Schism of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Simon was born before 1360 near Rochechouart
Rochechouart
Rochechouart is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department....
, Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne is a French department named after the Vienne River. It is one of three departments that together constitute the French region of Limousin.The chief and largest city is Limoges...
, a younger son in a family of minor nobles. He studied law at Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and became a well-known canonist. Simon taught canon law at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, attracting the attention of John, Duke of Berry
John, Duke of Berry
John of Valois or John the Magnificent was Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. He was the third son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg; his brothers were King Charles V of France, Duke Louis I of Anjou and Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy...
, one of the uncles of King Charles VI of France
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
. As a counselor of the duke, Simon performed both administrative and diplomatic tasks. In 1382, he was appointed Bishop of Agen, but was transferred to Béziers
Ancient Diocese of Béziers
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Béziers was situated in France. It is no longer an independent diocese, and is part of the Diocese of Montpellier....
in 1383, and finally to Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
in 1385. He was also appointed to Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
in 1390, but never occupied the see — instead he became the titular Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
This is a list of The Latin Patriarchs of Alexandria established in 1215 during the pontificate of Pope Innocent III. This titular office was abolished in 1964. His patriachal seat in Rome was the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls....
and Administrator of the Diocese of Avignon the following year. In 1409, he was made 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...
and subsequently a cardinal in 1413. From then until his death, he served as the administrator of the Diocese of Poitiers.
Cramaud was a prominent figure in the struggles of the fourteenth-century church, and a partisan of the Avignon Papacy
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
. He championed Avignon Pope Clement VII, but fought Clement's successor, Benedict XIII, any way he could. He presided at the Council of Pisa
Council of Pisa
The Council of Pisa was an unrecognized ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held in 1409 that attempted to end the Western Schism by deposing Benedict XIII and Gregory XII...
in 1409, and proclaimed the deposition of both Gregory XII and Benedict XIII, thus securing the election of Alexander V
Antipope Alexander V
Alexander V was antipope during the Western Schism . He reigned from June 26, 1409, to his death in 1410 and is officially regarded by the Roman Catholic Church as an antipope....
. At the Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
, he was largely responsible for the success of its election method, which granted a vote to certain national delegates along with the cardinals. He is considered by some to be a precursor to both theological and political Gallicanism
Gallicanism
Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by the monarchs' authority or the State's authority—over the Catholic Church is comparable to that of the Pope's...
. Simon died on 19 January 1423. He was buried at the cathedral in Poitiers, but his tomb was destroyed by Huguenots in 1562.
His treatise De substraccione obediencie (1397), offering multiple lines of reasoning for bringing the Schism to an end, was edited by Howard Kaminsky in 1984. Simon argued that Benedict's followers could withdraw obedience to compel him to seek a solution to the Schism.