Cardinal de Bouillon
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne (24 August 1643 – 2 March 1715, at Rome) was a French prelate and diplomat, known as the Cardinal de Bouillon.
, he was the nephew of Maréchal de Turenne
. His mother was Eleonora Catharina of the Bergh. As a member of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, he was a Foreign Prince
and entitled to the style of Highness.
In 1658, he was appointed a canon of Liège
; in 1667 doctor of the Sorbonne
. He played some part in Turenne's conversion to Catholicism in 1668 and had an important rôle as intermediary between his uncle and Louis XIV. Created a cardinal
in 1669, at the early age of twenty-four, he was provided with several rich benefices. In particular he was made Grand Almoner of France
in 1671 and became Supreme Abbot
of the Cluniac Order in 1683.
His brother Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne
was the next Duke of Bouillon. His oldest sister Élisabeth, married Charles III, Duke of Elbeuf
, son of Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf
and Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
.
Louvois
, the powerful minister of Louis XIV, inspired by enmity to the house of Turenne, successfully opposed certain of his demands on the king for the benefit of members of his family, and the cardinal's disappointment vented itself in a bitter satire on his royal master. This was used to effect Bouillon's downfall at court.
He carried out the nuptials between Philippe d'Orléans
, Duke of Chartres and Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Blois at Versailles on 18 February 1692. Mademoiselle de Blois was an illegitimate daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Bouillon had previously refused to take part in the marriage of Louise-Françoise de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Nantes (sister of Mademoiselle de Blois) to the Duke of Bourbon
in 1685 and was subsequently exiled then recalled to perform the formal ceremony.
The cardinal then put forth great efforts to obtain the vacant Prince-Bishopric of Liège, but could not overcome the opposition of Louvois, who secured the dignity for Clement Joseph of Bavaria. He eventually regained the royal favour and was sent as ambassador to Rome. While there, Bouillon employed the sculptor Pierre Le Gros
to carve the main components of the tomb he planned to erect for his parents at the Abbey of Cluny
(the sculptures were finished by 1707 and arrived at Cluny in 1709). Contrary to the wishes of his king, he championed the cause of Fénelon against that of Bossuet
and did all he could to prevent the condemnation of Fénelon's Explication des maximes des Saints.
He was recalled to France, but he hesitated to obey the Royal order since he was next in line for the office of Dean of the Sacred College and consequently Bishop of Ostia
(his presence at the time of the imminent death of the current Dean was required to secure his succession). The death of the pope and the subsequent conclave
further delayed departure and Bouillon's property in France was then seized. When he eventually submitted and returned to France, he was first exiled to his Abbey of Tournus, soon given a little more freedom of movement, but forbidden to enter Paris. This prevented him from defending himself against the monks of Cluny who sought a parliament ruling against Bouillon's rule over them.
With similar motives in mind as for his tomb project in Cluny, i.e. as contributing factors to a grander scheme of establishing his family as sovereign princes, the cardinal employed Étienne Baluze
to compose an Histoire généalogique de la maison d'Auvergne (1708, 2 vols. in fol.), partly based on falsifications. After losing his appeal to uphold his rule over the Cluniac monks in 1710, Bouillon wrote a deeply insulting letter to the king and fled to Prince Eugene of Savoy
in the Low Countries
.
A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Royal Parliament, and his possessions again confiscated. Only now, because of the dynastic pretentions expressed in them, Baluze's Histoire was banned and the building of the tomb at Cluny prevented.
Bouillon soon went to take up his residence at Rome, where he spent his last days as a guest of the Jesuits in the Jesuit novitiate at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
, where he was eventually buried.
Biography
The son of Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of BouillonDuke of Bouillon
The Duke of Bouillon is a title of nobility. Until the nineteenth century, the Duke of Bouillon was the ruler of the semi-sovereign Duchy of Bouillon , a small state located between Luxembourg, Champagne, and the Three Bishoprics and centered on Bouillon.- History of the Duchy of Bouillon :The...
, he was the nephew of Maréchal de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne,often called simply Turenne was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France...
. His mother was Eleonora Catharina of the Bergh. As a member of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, he was a Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince is the English translation of prince étranger, a high, though somewhat ambiguous, rank at the French royal court of the ancien régime.-Terminology:...
and entitled to the style of Highness.
In 1658, he was appointed a canon of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
; in 1667 doctor of the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. He played some part in Turenne's conversion to Catholicism in 1668 and had an important rôle as intermediary between his uncle and Louis XIV. Created a cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in 1669, at the early age of twenty-four, he was provided with several rich benefices. In particular he was made Grand Almoner of France
Grand Almoner of France
The Grand Almoner of France was an officer of the French monarchy and a member of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime...
in 1671 and became Supreme Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the Cluniac Order in 1683.
His brother Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne
Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne
Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne was a French nobleman and member of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, one of the most important families in France at the time...
was the next Duke of Bouillon. His oldest sister Élisabeth, married Charles III, Duke of Elbeuf
Charles III, Duke of Elbeuf
Charles de Lorraine was the third Duke of Elbeuf and member of the House of Lorraine. He succeeded his father Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf, to the Duchy-Peerage of Elbeuf. His mother was an illegitimate daughter of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées...
, son of Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf
Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf
Charles de Lorraine was a French nobleman, the son of Charles I of Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf by his wife, Marguerite de Chabot. He succeeded his father in the Elbeuf dukedom in 1605.- Biography :He joined the French royal court in 1607, becoming a playmate to the future King Louis XIII...
and Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
Catherine Henriette de Bourbon, Légitimée de France was an illegitimate daughter of King Henri IV and his long-term maîtresse en titre Gabrielle d'Estrées. She married into the Princely House of Guise.-Early years:...
.
Louvois
Louvois
Louvois may refer to:* François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois , French Secretary of State for War, commonly referred to as "Louvois"* Camille le Tellier de Louvois , French clergyman, son of the marquis...
, the powerful minister of Louis XIV, inspired by enmity to the house of Turenne, successfully opposed certain of his demands on the king for the benefit of members of his family, and the cardinal's disappointment vented itself in a bitter satire on his royal master. This was used to effect Bouillon's downfall at court.
He carried out the nuptials between Philippe d'Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, Duke of Chartres and Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Blois at Versailles on 18 February 1692. Mademoiselle de Blois was an illegitimate daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Bouillon had previously refused to take part in the marriage of Louise-Françoise de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Nantes (sister of Mademoiselle de Blois) to the Duke of Bourbon
Louis III, Prince of Condé
Louis de Bourbon, , was Prince of Condé for less than a year, following the death of his father Henry III, Prince of Condé in 1709...
in 1685 and was subsequently exiled then recalled to perform the formal ceremony.
The cardinal then put forth great efforts to obtain the vacant Prince-Bishopric of Liège, but could not overcome the opposition of Louvois, who secured the dignity for Clement Joseph of Bavaria. He eventually regained the royal favour and was sent as ambassador to Rome. While there, Bouillon employed the sculptor Pierre Le Gros
Pierre Le Gros the Younger
Pierre Le Gros was a French sculptor, active almost exclusively in Baroque Rome. Nowadays, his name is commonly written Legros, while he himself always signed as Le Gros; he is frequently referred to either as 'the Younger' or 'Pierre II' to distinguish him from his father, Pierre Le Gros the...
to carve the main components of the tomb he planned to erect for his parents at the Abbey of Cluny
Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
(the sculptures were finished by 1707 and arrived at Cluny in 1709). Contrary to the wishes of his king, he championed the cause of Fénelon against that of Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
and did all he could to prevent the condemnation of Fénelon's Explication des maximes des Saints.
He was recalled to France, but he hesitated to obey the Royal order since he was next in line for the office of Dean of the Sacred College and consequently Bishop of Ostia
Bishop of Ostia
The Bishop of Ostia is the head of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia, one of the seven suburbicarian sees of Rome. The position is now attached to the post of Dean of the College of Cardinals, as it has been since 1150, with the actual governance of the diocese entrusted to the Vicar General of...
(his presence at the time of the imminent death of the current Dean was required to secure his succession). The death of the pope and the subsequent conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
further delayed departure and Bouillon's property in France was then seized. When he eventually submitted and returned to France, he was first exiled to his Abbey of Tournus, soon given a little more freedom of movement, but forbidden to enter Paris. This prevented him from defending himself against the monks of Cluny who sought a parliament ruling against Bouillon's rule over them.
With similar motives in mind as for his tomb project in Cluny, i.e. as contributing factors to a grander scheme of establishing his family as sovereign princes, the cardinal employed Étienne Baluze
Étienne Baluze
Étienne Baluze was a French scholar, also known as Stephanus Baluzius.Born in Tulle, he was educated at his native town and took minor orders. As secretary to Pierre de Marca, archbishop of Toulouse, he won his appreciation of him, and at his death Marca left him all his papers...
to compose an Histoire généalogique de la maison d'Auvergne (1708, 2 vols. in fol.), partly based on falsifications. After losing his appeal to uphold his rule over the Cluniac monks in 1710, Bouillon wrote a deeply insulting letter to the king and fled to Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
.
A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Royal Parliament, and his possessions again confiscated. Only now, because of the dynastic pretentions expressed in them, Baluze's Histoire was banned and the building of the tomb at Cluny prevented.
Bouillon soon went to take up his residence at Rome, where he spent his last days as a guest of the Jesuits in the Jesuit novitiate at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
The Church of Saint Andrew's at the Quirinal is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, built for of the Jesuit seminary on the Quirinal Hill....
, where he was eventually buried.