Jean Vendeville
Encyclopedia
Jean Vendeville was a law professor and a bishop of Tournai.
, the son of Guillaume Vendeville and Marie Des Barbieux. He went to school in Menin
, and from the age of fifteen in Paris, where he studied law, beginning a legal practice in Arras
. In 1551 he married Anne Roelofs, of Leuven
, and in 1553 he obtained a doctorate in laws from the University of Leuven
. In 1562 he was appointed professor of law at the newly founded University of Douai
. He was influential in rallying secular support for the first establishment of diocesan seminaries
in the Low Countries, and for the establishment of a Jesuit college at Douai
. He travelled to Rome to promote the establishment of missionary seminaries, and journeyed back to the Low Countries in company with William Allen, whom he encouraged to found an English College
at Douai.
Vendeville was widowed in the early stages of the Dutch Revolt
, and briefly went into exile as a public supporter of the royal cause. He conducted negotiations on behalf of the royalist interest in the Low Countries, and was named a privy councillor by Philip II of Spain
, but in 1580 he resigned from public life to enter holy orders
. He was ordained priest in 1581. He was particularly noted for his charity during the dearth of 1586. The king proposed him as bishop of Tournai
in 1586, the appointment was confirmed in 1587, and he was consecrated as bishop on 29 May 1588. In 1589 he called a synod for the implementation of the Tridentine reforms in his diocese.
He died on 15 October 1592. He was buried the next day, in the choir of Tournai Cathedral
.
Life
Vendeville was possibly born in LilleLille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, the son of Guillaume Vendeville and Marie Des Barbieux. He went to school in Menin
Menin
Menin may refer to:*Menin , office in Ancien Régime France*Umberto Menin, Italian artist*The French name for the Belgian town of Menen *Menin, a tumor suppressor associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1....
, and from the age of fifteen in Paris, where he studied law, beginning a legal practice in Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
. In 1551 he married Anne Roelofs, of Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, and in 1553 he obtained a doctorate in laws from the University of Leuven
Old University of Leuven
The Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...
. In 1562 he was appointed professor of law at the newly founded University of Douai
University of Douai
The University of Douai is a former university in Douai, France. With a Middle Ages heritage of scholar activities in Douai, the university was established in 1559 and lectures started in 1562. It closed from 1795 to 1808...
. He was influential in rallying secular support for the first establishment of diocesan seminaries
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in the Low Countries, and for the establishment of a Jesuit college at Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. He travelled to Rome to promote the establishment of missionary seminaries, and journeyed back to the Low Countries in company with William Allen, whom he encouraged to found an English College
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
at Douai.
Vendeville was widowed in the early stages of the Dutch Revolt
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
, and briefly went into exile as a public supporter of the royal cause. He conducted negotiations on behalf of the royalist interest in the Low Countries, and was named a privy councillor by Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, but in 1580 he resigned from public life to enter holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
. He was ordained priest in 1581. He was particularly noted for his charity during the dearth of 1586. The king proposed him as bishop of Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
in 1586, the appointment was confirmed in 1587, and he was consecrated as bishop on 29 May 1588. In 1589 he called a synod for the implementation of the Tridentine reforms in his diocese.
He died on 15 October 1592. He was buried the next day, in the choir of Tournai Cathedral
Tournai Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady is Roman Catholic church, see of the Diocese of Tournai in Tournai, Belgium. It has been classified both as a Wallonia's major heritage since 1936 and as a World Heritage Site since 2000.-History:...
.
Sources
- Alexis Possoz, Mgr Jean Vendeville, évêque de Tournai 1587-1592 (Lille: Lefort, 1862). Available on Google Books.