Étienne Guibourg
Encyclopedia
The Abbé Étienne Guibourg (c. 1610 – January 1686) was a French Roman Catholic abbé
who was involved in the Affair of the Poisons.
He was the sacristan
of the Saint-Marcel church (destroyed during the French Revolution) at Saint-Denis
, and formerly the chaplain to the Comte de Montgomery. He claimed to be the illegitimate son of Henri de Montmorency
. He had a long-term mistress named Jeanne Chanfrain, with whom he had several children.
In 1680 Françoise Filastre, under interrogation in connection with the poison affair
, claimed that Guibourg had performed Black Mass
es for Catherine Monvoisin
around 1672-3. Guibourg was arrested and confessed to this and other crimes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and sequestration
and died in prison in 1686.
Abbé
Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France....
who was involved in the Affair of the Poisons.
He was the sacristan
Sacristan
A sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents.In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers , later by the treasurers and mansionarii...
of the Saint-Marcel church (destroyed during the French Revolution) at Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
, and formerly the chaplain to the Comte de Montgomery. He claimed to be the illegitimate son of Henri de Montmorency
Henri II de Montmorency
Henri II de Montmorency was a French nobleman and military commander.Born at Chantilly, Oise, he was the son of duke Henry I, whom he succeeded in 1614, having previously been made grand admiral...
. He had a long-term mistress named Jeanne Chanfrain, with whom he had several children.
In 1680 Françoise Filastre, under interrogation in connection with the poison affair
Poison affair
The Affair of the Poisons was a major murder scandal in France which took place in 1677–1682, during the reign of King Louis XIV. During it, a number of prominent members of the aristocracy were implicated and sentenced on charges of poisoning and witchcraft...
, claimed that Guibourg had performed Black Mass
Black Mass
A Black Mass is a ceremony supposedly celebrated during the Witches' Sabbath, which was a sacrilegious parody of the Catholic Mass. Its main objective was the profanation of the host, although there is no agreement among authors on how hosts were obtained or profaned; the most common idea is that...
es for Catherine Monvoisin
Catherine Monvoisin
Catherine Monvoisin, née Deshayes, known as "La Voisin" , was an French alleged sorceress, one of the chief personages in the affaire des poisons, during the reign of Louis XIV.- Activity :...
around 1672-3. Guibourg was arrested and confessed to this and other crimes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and sequestration
Sequestration (law)
Sequestration is the act of removing, separating, or seizing anything from the possession of its owner under process of law for the benefit of creditors or the state.-Etymology:...
and died in prison in 1686.
Text
- Anne Somerset - The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV (St. Martin's Press (October 12, 2003) ISBN 0-312-33017-0)
- Hugh Noel Williams - Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV, 1910.
- Excerpts from Bastille trial records of Guibourg and LaVoisin (French and English translation)
See also
- Poison AffairPoison affairThe Affair of the Poisons was a major murder scandal in France which took place in 1677–1682, during the reign of King Louis XIV. During it, a number of prominent members of the aristocracy were implicated and sentenced on charges of poisoning and witchcraft...