The Diocese of Lisieux was a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in France, centered on Lisieux, in Calvados. The bishop of Lisieux was the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisieux. The bishopric was suppressed during the French Revolution and was not reinstated. Present-day Lisieux is part of the Diocese of Bayeux.
History Early history A list of alleged early bishops of Lisieux was included in the Ritual of Lisieux, published in 1661 under the direction of Bishop Léonor (I) Goyon de Matignon. The list, however, was padded with the names of saints whose putative relics were stored in the cathedral. These included Saint Ursinus,Ursinus' relics were brought from Bourges under Bishop Hugues (1050–1077), nephew of Duke Robert II of Normandy. Guillaume Bassin, Concilia Rotomagensia (Rouen: apud Franciscum Vaultier 1717), p. 475 column 2. Saint Patrick and Saint Cande, none of whom can be shown to have been a bishop.Gallia christiana XI, p. 762. Fisquet, p. 220.
The first known Bishop of Lisieux is one Theodibandes, mentioned in connection with a council held in 538.
Middle Ages A synod was held at Lisieux in 1055 by the Papal Legate, Bishop Hermanfried of Sion, with the cooperation of Duke William d'Eu, the illegitimate son of Richard I of Normandy, in which Archbishop Malgerius of Rouen was deposed. His dissolute life was notorious, he had refused to attend a Roman Council though summoned, and he made rebellion against the Duke. The deposition had already been agreed to by Pope Leo IX.J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, Tomus XIX (Venice 1774), pp. 837–840. C. J. Hefele, Histoire des conciles IV. 2 (Paris: Letouzey 1911), pp. 1121–1122.
In the middle of October 1106, King Henry I of England visited Lisieux, where he held an assembly of the leading figures of the duchy of Normandy, both lay and ecclesiastical. He dealt with the disorders which had been caused by his brother Duke Robert, taking hostages (who were sent to England) including Robert, and condemning to imprisonment for life Count Guillaume Werlenc of Mortain, Robert d'Estouteville, and several others.J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, Tomus XX (Venice 1775), pp. 1209–1210. In 1136, the cathedral was burned by Geoffrey of Anjou. Under Arnulf of Lisieux essential repairs were conducted before it was then completely rebuild from 1160 onwards.
The Collège de Lisieux was founded at Paris in 1336 by Bishop Guy de Harcourt, Bishop of Lisieux, by testamentary bequest, and with additional endowments from three members of the d'Estouteville family. It supported twenty-four poor students of the diocese. It lasted until 1764, when it was transferred to the Collège de Dormans.
In August 1417, King Henry V of England besieged, captured and sacked the city of Lisieux. When the Bishop of Lisieux, Pierre Fresnel, was killed in street fighting in Paris on 12 June 1418, King Henry considered it a good moment to install a bishop in Lisieux who would be favorable to the English cause. His wishes ran contrary to those of Pope Martin V, leading to the appointment of Cardinal Branda da Castiglione as administrator of the diocese. When Henry died on 31 August 1422, Martin V was able to appoint Castiglione's nephew as bishop.Louis François Du Bois, Histoire de Lisieux, Vol. 1, p. 130.
Structure The Chapter of the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre was composed of nine dignities and thirty Canons. The dignities were: the Dean, the Cantor, the Treasurer, the Capicerio, the Magister Scholarum, and the four Archdeacons (Lieuven, Auge, Pont-Audemer, and Gacé). All were appointed by the bishop, except the Dean, who was elected by the Chapter. There were thirty-one prebends, the first eleven of whom had the title of 'Baron'. The cathedral also had four Vicars and thirty chaplains.Gallia christiana XI, p. 762. Fisquet, pp. 220–221. The Bishop of Lisieux was ex-officio Conservator of the University of Caen.
The diocese of Lisieux contained 487 parishes and 520 rectories.Cf. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 243 note 1.
On its territory there were six abbeys for men and two for women. Almost all of these houses belonged to the Order of Saint Benedict: the male abbeys of Saint-Evroul, Bernay, Préaux, Grestain,Léchaud d'Anisy, Les anciens abbayes de Normandie Tome II (Caen: E. Brunet 1824), pp. 1–3. Cormeilles, as also the two female houses of Saint-Léger,Gallia christiana XI, pp. 853–855. and Saint-Désir.Gallia christiana XI, pp. 855–857. The sole exception was the male Abbey of Mondaye, located at Mont-Dée, which was a house of Canons Regular belonging to the Order of Premonstratensians.
List of bishops
To 1000
Theudobaudis c. 538–c. 549Theudobaudis (Theodibandes, Theudebaud, Theudobaud, Thibaud) was present at the Council of Orléans (538), was represented at the Council of Orléans of 541, and was present at the Council of Orléans of 549. Gallia christiana XI, p. 763. Fisquet, p. 223. Duchesne, II, p. 236 no. 1. C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), pp. 129, 145, 159. Edibius ? (between 557 and 573)Duchesne, p. 236 no.2, notes that, when Bishop Theudobaudus was unable to attend the Council of Paris in 541, he sent the priest Edibius in his place. A Bishop Edibius subscribes to the decrees of the Council of Paris that met at some point between 557 and 573. De Clercq, pp. 145, 210. Ætherius c. 560?Due to excessive indulgence of a sexually corrupt cleric, Aetherius was attacked and imprisoned by some of his own clergy. He escaped and fled to the kingdom of Guntram. Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum Book VI, chapter 36 (ca. 584). Gallia christiana XI, pp. 763–764. Fisquet, pp. 223–225. Duchesne, p. 236 no. 3. Chamnegisilus (or Launomundus) (c. 614)The subscription list of the Council of Paris of 614 show: ex civitate Loxouia Chamnegisilus and a little later ex civitate Loxouias Launomundus. One of the two was Bishop of Lisieux. Duchesne, p. 236, no. 4. De Clercq, pp. 281, 282. Launebaud (Launobaud) 9c. 644)Bishop Launobaudus was present at the Council of Chalon-sur-Saône, which took place between 647 and 653. Duchesne, p. 236, no. 5. De Clercq, p. 309. Hincho (c. 660)Hincho signed a charter in 660. Duchesne, p. 237, no. 6. [Leudebold (Léodebold)] (c. 662)A bishop of Lisieux signed a privilege in 664, but the name of the bishop is not given. Gallia christiana XI, p. 764. Duchesne, p. 237, note 1. Freculf (823/5–850/2)Freculf was a pupil of the palace school founded by Charlemagne, and author of a universal history. Gallia christiana XI, pp. 764–765. Fisquet, pp. 225–227. Duchesne, p. 237, no. 7. Airard (Hairard) c. 853–c. 880Hairardus: Gallia christiana XI, p. 765. Fisquet, p. 227. Roger (Rogier) c. 985–1022 or c. 980–c. 1018Rogerius: Gallia christiana XI, pp. 765–766. Fisquet, pp. 227–228. Gams, p. 566 column 1.
1000 to 1300
Robert c. 1022–c. 1025Bishop Robert was promoted to the See of Coutances, where he is found in 1025. Fisquet, pp. 228–229. Herbert c. 1026–1049Bishop Herbert was transferred from Coutances to Lisieux. Fisquet, pp. 229–231. Hugo d'Eu, 1049–1077 (Rollonide)Hugues was the natural son of Guillaume Comte d'Eu. He blessed the Abbot of Saint-Evroul on 5 October 1350. He died on 17 July 1077, according to Orderic Vitalis. Fisquet, pp. 231–234. Gilbert Maminot 1077–1101Maminot was one of the bishops who participated in the dedication of the new church of the Abbey of Bec by Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury on 23 October 1077. He died in August 1101. Fisquet, pp. 235–237. Fulcher (Foucher) 1101–1103Fulcher was brother of Ranulf Flambard. Spear "The Norman Empire and the Secular Clergy" Journal of British Studies p. 5. He was consecrated by Archbishop William of Rouen in June 1102, and died in January 1103. Schriber The Dilemma of Arnulf of Lisieux pp. 26–27. Oderic Vitalis says of Fulcher, "He was almost illiterate and had been picked out of the court for the bishopric by his brother's influence." Gallia christiana XI, pp. 771–772. [Thomas of Lisieux - son of Ranulf Flambard]Spear, p. 5. Thomas was a child of twelve, who was placed in the See of Lisieux by his father, Ranulf, Bishop of Durham. The Archbishop of Rouen and the Bishop of Évreux, however, considered Thomas' elevation uncanonical, and ordered the expulsion of Ranulf and his sons and a canonical election of a bishop. Fisquet, p. 237. John 1107–1141 Arnulf (Arnoul) of Lisieux 1141–1181, statesman and writer Raoul de Varneville 1182–1191 or 1192Varneville was Chancellor of the King of England (1173–1177), Treasurer of York, and Treasurer and Archdeacon of Rouen. Fisquet, pp. 250–251. Guillaume de Ruffière (Rupière) 1192–1201Ruffière died on 19 October 1201. Fisquet, pp. 251–253. Jourdain du Houmet (Hommet) 1202–1218Houmet: Fisquet, pp. 254–255. Eubel, I, p. 304. Guillaume Du Pont-de-L'Arche 1218–1250Du Pont-de-L'Arche: Fisquet, pp. 256–257. Eubel, I, p. 304. Foulque D'Astin 1250–1267D'Astin: Fisquet, pp. 257–258. Eubel, I, p. 304. Guy du Merle 1267–1285Du Merle: Fisquet, pp. 258–259. Eubel, I, p. 304. Guillaume D'Asnières 1285–1298Guillaume d'Asnières was elected following the death of Bishop de Merle on 25 April 1285. He died on 25 August 1298. Fisquet, p. 260. Eubel, I, p. 304. Jean de Samois, O.Min. 1299–1302Samois was transferred from the diocese of Rennes (1298–1299) on 3 February 1299 by Pope Boniface VIII, after rejecting the choice of the Cathedral Chapter, Canon Henri de Tilly. He died on 4 December 1302. Fisquet, pp. 260–261. Eubel, I, p. 304.
1300 to 1500
Guy D'Harcourt 1303–1336Harcourt: Fisquet, pp. 261–263. Guillaume de Charmont 1336–49Charmont: Fisquet, pp. 263–264. Guillaume Guitard 1349–1358Guitart had been Bishop of Saint-Paul-trois-Châteaux (1348–1349). He was transferred to the diocese of Lisieux on 4 November 1349 by Pope Innocent VI. He was still alive on 12 June 1358, but he fled disorders in his diocese and sought refuge in Avignon, where he was killed in a house fire. Fisquet, p. 264. Eubel, I, pp. 304, 497. Jean de Dormans 1359–1361Dormans had been Canon of Soissons, Meaux, and Beauvais, as well as Archdeacon of Senlis. He was Chancellor of the Dauphin. He was appointed Bishop of Lisieux on 19 November 1358 by Pope Innocent VI, and transferred to the diocese of Beauvais on 12 July 1359. In 1364 he was an executor of the Testament of King John II of France, and he assisted at the coronation of King Charles V as a Peer of France. He was Chancellor of France. He was named a cardinal on 22 September 1368 by Pope Urban V. He died on 7 November 1373. Formeville, II, p. 128. Fisquet, pp. 264–268. Eubel, I, pp. 21 no. 9; 132; 304. Adhémar Robert 1361–1368Robert was granted his bulls on 12 July 1359 by Innocent VI. He was transferred to the diocese of Arras on 11 October 1368. He died as Archbishop of Sens on 25 January 1384. Fisquet, pp. 268–269. Eubel, I, pp. 116, 304. Alphonse Chevrier 1369–1377Chevrier: Fisquet, pp. 269–270. Eubel, I, p. 304. Nicole Oresme 1377–1382Fisquet, pp. 270–274. Eubel, I, p. 304. François Neveux, "Nicole Oresme et le clergé normand du XIVe siècle," Revue historique 281 (1989), pp. 51–75. (JSTOR) Guillaume d'Estouteville 1382–1415Estouteville's brother Thomas was Bishop of Beauvais, and his brother Estold was Abbot of Fécamp. They were related to the celebrated Cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville (d. 1483). Guillaume had been Bishop of Évreux (1374) at the age of twenty, and Bishop of Auxerre (1376). On 13 September 1382 he was transferred to the diocese of Lisieux. He died on 10 January 1415. Fisquet, pp. 274–276. Eubel, I, p. 304. Pierre Fresnel 1415–1418Fresnel was transferred from the diocese of Noyon (1409–1415) to Lisieux on 28 January 1415 by Pope John XXIII. He died in Paris in a riot on 12 June 1418 between the partisans of the Duc d'Orléans and the Duc de Bourgogne. Fisquet, pp. 276–278. Eubel, I, p. 304.