Guillaume Briconnet
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Briçonnet was the Bishop of Meaux from 1516 until his death in 1534.
Briçonnet was born into a wealthy aristocratic family about the year 1472. His father was Guillaume Briçonnet
(1445–1514) who had already enjoyed a successful career in the Catholic Church. The influence that the elder Guillaume Briçonnet exercised certainly did not hinder his son and namesake from advancing up through the Church hierarchy. The younger Briçonnet was made Bishop of Lodève in 1489 and was later installed as the abbot
of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
in 1507. Briçonnet also had political connections to the royal court. In 1516 he was commissioned by King Francis I of France
to negotiate with Pope Leo X
on the terms of the Concordat of Bologna
. In the same year Briçonnet was chosen as the new Bishop of Meaux where he would begin the most significant part of his career.
As Bishop, Briçonnet began to implement a program of reform in his diocese
. He worked to improve the training of his clergy as well as improving monastic discipline. In the course of these efforts however he made some enemies particularly among the Franciscan
friars within his diocese. Additionally, Briçonnet invited a number of evangelical humanist
to work in the bishopric
to help implement his reform program. This group of humansists became known as the Circle of Meaux and included Josse van Clichtove
, Guillaume Farel, Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples
, Martial Mazurier, Gérard Roussel
, and François Vatable
. The members of the Meaux circle were of different talents but they generally emphasized the study of the Bible
and a return to the theology of the early Church.
Although Briçonnet supported a renewal of his diocese along humanist lines with the support of evangelical
reformers, the bishop never supported and later condemned the growing Reformation
movement centered around Martin Luther
. Certain members of the group disagreed with the bishop in their attitude towards Lutheranism
however. The support of Lutheranism by some of his subordinates cast suspicion on Briçonnet's entire project. Some of the Franciscan friars in his diocese, already unhappy with the Bishop's austere method, took the opportunity offered by this suspicion and accused him of Lutheranism. Briçonnet had to appear before the Parlement of Paris to face charges of heresy
. Briçonnet was found innocent by the Parlement
, possible because of his connections at the royal court in Paris. Permanent damage had been done to Briçonnet's reform efforts however, and he found it impossible to continue his attempt to regenerate the spiritual life of his diocese. The Circle of Meaux disbanded about 1525 and its members went various ways, some of them later playing important roles in the Reformation.
After the breakup of the Circle of Meaux Briçonnet served for another nine years as bishop before his death, dismayed at the growing reaction in the Catholic Church against all attempts at internal reform that smacked of possible heresy. In retrospect Briçonnet can be grouped with contemporary Bishops of the Catholic Church such as Christoph von Utenheim
and Hugo von Hohenlandenberg
who attempted, unsuccessfully, to reform the Church along evangelical lines without breaking up ecclesiastical unity.
Briçonnet was born into a wealthy aristocratic family about the year 1472. His father was Guillaume Briçonnet
Guillaume Briçonnet (Cardinal)
Guillaume Briçonnet was a French Cardinal.-Life:He was a younger son of Jean Briçonnet, Lord of Varennes, in Touraine, Secretary to the king and collector-general of Customs...
(1445–1514) who had already enjoyed a successful career in the Catholic Church. The influence that the elder Guillaume Briçonnet exercised certainly did not hinder his son and namesake from advancing up through the Church hierarchy. The younger Briçonnet was made Bishop of Lodève in 1489 and was later installed as the 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 Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, just beyond the outskirts of early medieval Paris, was the burial place of Merovingian kings of Neustria...
in 1507. Briçonnet also had political connections to the royal court. In 1516 he was commissioned by King Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
to negotiate with Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
on the terms of the Concordat of Bologna
Concordat of Bologna
The Concordat of Bologna , marking a stage in the evolution of the Gallican Church, was an agreement between King Francis I of France and Pope Leo X that Francis negotiated in the wake of his victory at Marignano in September 1515...
. In the same year Briçonnet was chosen as the new Bishop of Meaux where he would begin the most significant part of his career.
As Bishop, Briçonnet began to implement a program of reform in his diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. He worked to improve the training of his clergy as well as improving monastic discipline. In the course of these efforts however he made some enemies particularly among the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friars within his diocese. Additionally, Briçonnet invited a number of evangelical humanist
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
to work in the bishopric
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
to help implement his reform program. This group of humansists became known as the Circle of Meaux and included Josse van Clichtove
Josse van Clichtove
Josse van Clichtove , Belgian theologian, received his education at Leuven and at Paris under Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples....
, Guillaume Farel, Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples
Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples
Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples or Jacob Faber Stapulensis was a French theologian and humanist. He was a precursor of the Protestant movement in France. The "d’Étaples" was not part of his name as such, but used to distinguish him from Jacques Lefèvre of Deventer, a less significant contemporary, a...
, Martial Mazurier, Gérard Roussel
Gérard Roussel
Gérard Roussel was a French cleric, a student of Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples and later a member, with his former teacher, of the Circle of Meaux around Guillaume Briçonnet, bishop of Meaux...
, and François Vatable
François Vatable
François Vatable was a French humanist scholar, a Hellenist and Hebraist.-Life:Born in Gamaches, Somme, he was for a time rector of Bramet in Valois, in 1530 or 1531. Francis I of France appointed him to the chair of Hebrew in the newly-founded College of the Three Languages, afterwards better...
. The members of the Meaux circle were of different talents but they generally emphasized the study of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and a return to the theology of the early Church.
Although Briçonnet supported a renewal of his diocese along humanist lines with the support of evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
reformers, the bishop never supported and later condemned the growing Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
movement centered around Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
. Certain members of the group disagreed with the bishop in their attitude towards Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
however. The support of Lutheranism by some of his subordinates cast suspicion on Briçonnet's entire project. Some of the Franciscan friars in his diocese, already unhappy with the Bishop's austere method, took the opportunity offered by this suspicion and accused him of Lutheranism. Briçonnet had to appear before the Parlement of Paris to face charges of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. Briçonnet was found innocent by the Parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
, possible because of his connections at the royal court in Paris. Permanent damage had been done to Briçonnet's reform efforts however, and he found it impossible to continue his attempt to regenerate the spiritual life of his diocese. The Circle of Meaux disbanded about 1525 and its members went various ways, some of them later playing important roles in the Reformation.
After the breakup of the Circle of Meaux Briçonnet served for another nine years as bishop before his death, dismayed at the growing reaction in the Catholic Church against all attempts at internal reform that smacked of possible heresy. In retrospect Briçonnet can be grouped with contemporary Bishops of the Catholic Church such as Christoph von Utenheim
Christoph von Utenheim
Christoph von Utenheim was Bishop of Basel from 1502 until his resignation from that office in 1527.Christoph von Utenheim was born about the year 1450. He studied theology and canon law at Basel and Erfurt. In either 1473 or 1474 he became the rector of Basel University. He earned his doctorate...
and Hugo von Hohenlandenberg
Hugo von Hohenlandenberg
Hugo von Hohenlandenberg was Bishop of Konstanz from 1496 to 1529, and again in 1530 and 1531 until his death in 1532.-Biography:...
who attempted, unsuccessfully, to reform the Church along evangelical lines without breaking up ecclesiastical unity.