BESANÇON ARCHBISHOPRIC

  v4.1 Updated 11 January 2023

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTRODUCTION. 1

Chapter 1.                ARCHBISHOPS of BESANÇON. 1

Chapter 2.                BISHOPS of BASEL. 4

Chapter 3.                BISHOPS of BELLEY. 4

Chapter 4.                BISHOPS of GENEVA. 4

Chapter 5.                BISHOPS of LAUSANNE. 4

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

This document sets out the families of the archbishops of Besançon and of the bishops of the four bishoprics which lay within the archiepiscopal diocese.  At present, the document is only partially completed.  It has been uploaded in Medieval Lands at this early stage in its development mainly to complete the hyperlinks to other documents. 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1.    ARCHBISHOPS of BESANÇON

 

 

1.         HARDWIG .  Hincmar names “Harduicus archiepiscopus Besintionensis...” as one of the bishops present when Lothaire II King of Lotharingia accepted the return of his wife Teutberga in 865[1]. 

 

 

1.         HUGUES de Salins, son of HUMBERT [II] Sire des Salins & his wife Ermenburge --- (-27 Jul [1066 or 1067], bur Besançon Saint-Paul).  Archbishop of Besançon .  "Vualcherius miles de Salinis" confirmed donations of "Humberto patri suo" by undated charter, dated to after 1039, in the presence of "Hugo archiepiscopus, frater Vualcherii…"[2].   The necrology of Besançon cathedral records the death “VI Kal Aug” of “Hugo primus Archiepiscopus” and his donation[3].  The necrology of Besançon Saint-Paul records the death “VI Kal Aug” of “Hugo bonæ memoriæ hujus canonicæ institutor...apud nos sepultus”[4]. 

 

 

1.         HUGUES de Montfaucon, son of --- (-[1085]).  The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified.   Archbishop of Besançon 1067. 

 

 

1.         HUGUES de Bourgogne, son of GUILLAUME I Comte de Bourgogne & his wife Etiennette --- (-13 Sep 1103).  He and his brothers Etienne and Raimond called themselves sons of the "most noble count William" in a late-11th century document[5].  Archbishop of Besançon 1086. 

 

 

Two possible siblings: 

1.         HUMBERT, son of --- (-1162).  The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified.  Gallia Christiana does not record his parentage[6].  Dunod says that “on [le] croit être de la maison de St. Quentin”[7].  Archbishop of Besançon 1134. 

2.         [--- .  The charter dated 18 Feb 1149, under which Humbert Archbishop of Besançon confirmed the withdrawal by "domnus Raaldus de Ceys" of his claim to the church of Saintoche, witnessed by "Hugo de Rocha et Otto frater eius, nepotes nostri…"[8], suggests that the mother of the two brothers was the archbishop’s sister.  m --- de la Roche, son of ---.] 

 

 

1.         GAUTHIER de Bourgogne, son of HUGUES II "Borel/le Pacifique" Duke of Burgundy & his wife Mathilde de Mayenne (-Lugny 7 Jan 1180, bur Chartreuse monastery of Lugny, Côte d'Or).  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "episcopus Galterus" as brother of "Odonis Burgundie ducis" when recording his appointment as Bishop of Langres[9].  His parentage is confirmed by two charters dated [1172/75] of "Galterius…lingonensis episcopus" which name "Hugonis ducis Burgundie nepotis mei", the second of which also names "mater mea Mathildis ducissa…dominus Hugo frater meus"[10].  “Hugo dux Burgundiæ” donated land in “Flagit et Verne” to Vergy Saint-Vincent, with the consent of “uxore sua Mathilde cum omnibus filiis suis Odone, Hugone, Roberto, Henrico, Raimundo, Walterio”, by charter dated 20 Oct 1131[11].  Archbishop of Besançon end 1161, forced to resign after being persecuted by Emperor Friedrich "Barbarossa".  Canon and Archdeacon at Langres, elected Bishop of Langres end 1163.  Comte de Langres 1178/79, by grant of his nephew Duke Hugues III.  He became a Chartreuse monk at Lugny, near Recey-sur-Ourse, Côte d'Or[12]. 

 

1.         THIERRY de Montfaucon, son of RICHARD [II] Seigneur de Montfaucon & his wife Sophie de Montbéliard (-Ptolemais 1190).  A charter dated 14 Jul 1148 records the confirmation of the donation by "dominus Richardus de Montefalchonis" to Besançon Saint-Etienne for the soul of "conjugis", with the consent of "filio eius Teodorico, ipsius ecclesiæ canonico…Amadeus et Raynaldus filii ipsius Richardi…filiæ ipsius uxor domini Gerardi de Fontevennæ et Stephania"[13].  Canon, later Archdeacon of Besançon.  "Odo comes de Rocha" donated property to the abbey of Belchamp, for the soul of "uxoris sue Ermentrudis", by charter dated to [1180], witnessed by "Teodericus decanus Sancti Stephani, atque Stephania abbatissa de Palma soror supradicti decani…"[14].  He was elected Archbishop of Besançon in 1181.  He accompanied Louis Comte de Ferrette on the Third Crusade in 1189.  He was present at the siege of Acre, but died from plague soon after[15]. 

 

 

1.         THIERRY .  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1195 that, after the death of "in Burgundia...Bisuntinensi electo Stephano" who had succeeded “archiepiscopo Theoderico”, “Amedeus” was elected as archbishop and held office for 25 years[16]. 

 

 

1.         ETIENNE de Vienne, son of GERARD [I] Comte de Mâcon et de Vienne [Bourgogne-Comté] & his wife Maurette de Salins (-1195).  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "comitem Guilelmum Matisconensem sive Viennensem et Galterum de Salins et quemdam Gerardum et Stephanum Bisuntinensem electum" as children of "[comes] Gerardum Viennensem" & his wife[17].  He was elected Archbishop of Besançon but died before he could take office[18].  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1195 that, after the death of "in Burgundia...Bisuntinensi electo Stephano" who had succeeded “archiepiscopo Theoderico”, “Amedeus” was elected as archbishop and held office for 25 years[19]. 

 

 

1.         AMEDEE de Dramelay, son of HUMBERT de Dramelay & his wife --- (-19 Jan 1220).  Archbishop of Besançon 1194.  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1195 that, after the death of "in Burgundia...Bisuntinensi electo Stephano" who had succeeded “archiepiscopo Theoderico”, “Amedeus” was elected as archbishop and held office for 25 years[20].  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the death in 1220 of “Amedeus archiepiscopus Bisuntinensis...vir senex et emeritus”[21].  The necrology of Besançon Saint-Etienne records the death “XIV Kal Feb” of “Amedeus archiepiscopus Bisuntinus” and the donations made for him[22]. 

 

 

1.         GERARD de Rougemont, son of THIBAUT [II] de Rougemont & his wife Alix de Traves (-1228).  Deacon of Saint-Jean.  Archbishop of Besançon 1220.  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1220 that, after the death of “Amedeus archiepiscopus Bisuntinensis”, the churches of “sancti Stephani...et sancti Iohannis” competed for supremacy in the town but on the same day both independently elected “domnus Conradus legatus” as bishop to be submitted for Papal approval, although “Gerardus Sancti Iohannis decanus filius Theobaldi de Rogemont filii Humberti comitis Stephani consobrinus et habuit fratres Humbertum et Theobaldum. Humberti filius Ugo de filia Haymonis de Falcongneis genuit Haymonem modernum” was elected as archbishop[23]. 

 

 

1.         NICOLAS .  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1228 the succession of “magister Nicholaus” in “archiepiscopatum Bisuntinum”[24]. 

 

1.         GEOFFROY .  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the appointment in 1236 of “Gaufridus Parisiensis archidyaconus” as “Bisuntinensis archiepiscopus”[25]. 

 

 

1.         HUGUES "le Sourd" de Salins, son of JEAN [I] "le Sage" Seigneur de Salins [Bourgogne-Comté] & his third wife Laurette de Commercy (-23 Jun 1312).  A charter dated 9 Jul 1309 confirms the marriage between “Jehans de Chalon sires d´Allay…Ysabel sa fille” and “messires Loys de Savoie sires de Waut”, and also names “l´arcevesque de Besençon, frère doudit Jehan”[26].  Archdeacon of Laon 1296.  He was appointed Bishop of Liège 12 Dec 1295 by Pope Boniface VIII, he entered Liège 24 Aug 1296.  Following disputes in Liège, the Pope transferred him to become Archbishop of Besançon 11 Dec 1301. 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2.    BISHOPS of BASEL

 

 

 

1.         HENRI de Neuchâtel, son of ULRICH [IV] Comte et Seigneur de Neuchâtel & his [first/second] wife [Gertrud---/Jolanthe von Urach] (-13 Sep 1274, bur Basel Cathedral).  “Ulricus comes et dominus Novicastri” donated property to Kloster Erlach, with the consent of “filiis meis Rodolfo, Ottone, Berchtoldo, Heinrico et Ulrico”, by charter dated 22 Jun 1225[27].  "Ruodolfus comes de Novo castro" donated revenue to the church of Saint-Jean de Cerlier, with the consent of "fratribus meis Ottone, Berchtoldo, Heinrico et Ulrico", by charter dated 5 Dec 1234[28].  “Rodulphus comes Novi Castri” sold property to the abbey of Saint-Jean, with the consent of “fratrum meorum domini Ottonis prepositi Solodorensis et domini Henrici archidiaconi Basiliensis et domini Ulrici de Arberg et domini Berthodi de Valengin”, by charter dated 9 Jun 1242[29].  "Domini Henrici Nüvenburg prepositi Solodorensis" donated property to the monastery of Gottstadt, for the soul of "domini Rodulphi de Nuwenburg comitis fratris sui pie recordationis", by charter dated 14 Mar 1257[30].  Provost of Solothurn.  Bishop of Basel 1263. 

 

 

 

 

1.         JEAN de Chalon, son of JEAN de Chalon Sire d´Arlay & his first wife Marguerite de Bourgogne [Capet] (1300-22 Jun 1334).  The charter dated 30 Oct 1315 of Louis X King of France refers to the inheritance of “Hugone de Cabilone domino de Arlato, milite, et Johanne de Cabilone…eius fratre”[31].  Canon at Langres Cathedral  and Besançon Cathedral 1316.  Canon in Paris 1317.  Deacon of Langres Cathedral 1318.  Bishop of Basel 1325, resigned 1328.  Bishop of Langres 1328.  Pair de France. 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3.    BISHOPS of BELLEY

 

 

 

1.         AYMON, son of [AMEDEE Comte [de Belley] & his wife ---] (-[1050]).  Bishop of Belley [1032].  "Aymo Bellicensis episcopus" refers to property "ecclesiæ S. Ioannis Baptistæ" held by "pater noster Amedeus", by undated charter[32].  Carutti suggests that Aymon Bishop of Belley was the son of Amedée Comte [de Belley][33].  According to Europäische Stammtafeln, Bishop Aymon was the son of Amedée I "la Queue" Comte de Maurienne (see the document SAVOY)[34].  This may be based on a manuscript note attached to an undated charter, under which "Amedeus…comes et fratres mei, unacum genitrice nostra Gisla" donated property to the church of Belley "per nostros advocatos…comitem Aimonem Genevensem et Widonem de Mirabello", for the soul of "patris nostri Humberti comitis", states that "Hic Amadeus comes erat Belicensis pater Aimonis episcopi…"[35].  However, this note is incorrect as the donor under this charter was Amedée III Comte de Maurienne who lived about a century after Comte Amedée I.  It is not known whether any other authority exists for asserting that Aymon Bishop of Belley was the son of Comte Amedée I. 

 

 

 

1.         BERNARD .  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1232, after the death of “Belicensi episcopo Bernardo”, the election of “unus filiorum comitis Thome de Sabaudia” who died the same year[36]. 

 

 

1.         --- de Savoie, .  The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records in 1232, after the death of “Belicensi episcopo Bernardo”, the election of “unus filiorum comitis Thome de Sabaudia” who died the same year[37]. 

 

 

1.         EDOUARD de Savoie, son of PHILIPPE de Savoie Prince of Achaia & his second wife Catherine de Viennois (before 9 Jun 1330-1395).  The testament of "Dominus Philippus de Sabaudia primogenitus…Domini Thomæ de Sabaudia Dominus in partibus Pedemontii" dated 9 Jun 1330 appoints "Amedeum, Thomam et Eduardum filio suos" as his heirs[38].  Monk at Sion from 18 Feb 1346.  Abbot of San Giusto and Prior of Borghetto 1366.  Seigneur de Conteis et de Chillon 1370.  Bishop of Belley 1370.  Bishop of Sion 1374.  Archbishop of Tarantasia 23 Mar 1386. 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4.    BISHOPS of GENEVA

 

 

1.         GUY de Faucigny, son of LOUIS Seigneur de Faucigny & his wife Tetberga --- (-1 Nov [1119]).  Bishop of Geneva 1083.  "Wido…Gebennensis episcopus" donated "ecclesiam de Condominio" for the souls of "patris mei Ludovici et avi mei Ermenradi et Guillelmi fratris mei et filiorum eius Rodulfi, Ludoici, Raimundi et episcorum Geraldi Lausannensi et Amadei Morianensis nepotum meorum et matris eorum Utilie et matrie mee Teberge" to Cluny by charter dated 4 Sep 1119, on condition that "Radulfus nepos meus" retained the advocacy of the church, witnessed by "Aymonis comitis Gebennensis, Guillelmi filius eius, Guillelmi Dardelni, Gauceranni fratris eius, Fulconis fratris eorum"[39].  The 13th century obituary of the Eglise primatiale de Lyon records the death "Kal Nov" of "Guido episcopus Gebennensis atque canonicus Sancti Stephani"[40]. 

2.         GUILLAUME Seigneur de Faucigny.  m OTTILIE, daughter of ---.  Children: 

a)         RODOLPHE Seigneur de Faucigny.  m ---.  Children: 

i)          ARDUCIUS de Faucigny (-25 Jul 1185).  Bishop of Geneva 1135.  "Reymondus de Fucignii et Petronilla eius uxor" donated property to the abbey of Aulps, with the consent of "nepotibus suis Ardusio episcopo Gebennensi, Aymone, Rodulpho et Guillermeto militibus", by undated charter, dated to after [1135][41].  "Aymo de Fulciniaco" founded the Chartreuse abbey of Reposoir by charter dated 1151, witnessed by "…Arducius Gebennensis episcopus frater meus, et Rodulphus Alamandi similiter frater meus…"[42].  Arducius Bishop of Geneva and "Henricus dominus de Focigniaco nepos noster" granted concessions to the monastery of Contamine, in the presence of "R. Teutonici et Raymondi fratrum nostrorum, Willelmi et Aymonis nepotum nostrorum", by charter dated "die veneris" Jun 1178, witnessed by "…Alimarus de Castellione, Turumbertus filius eius…"[43]. 

 

 

1.         AIMON de Grandson, son of EBLES [III] Seigneur de Grandson & his [first] wife --- [de Genève] (-21 Oct [1262]).  Bishop of Geneva 1215.  Resigned 1260. 

 

 

1.         ROBERT de Genève, son of GUILLAUME [II] Comte de Genève & his [second] wife Alix --- (-14 Jan 1287).  "Villelmus comes Gebennensis" confirmed the foundation of the Chartreuse monastery of Pomiers by "Villelmo patre meo", with the consent of "Alesia comitissa uxor mea et Rodulphus filius noster primogenitus cum filiis nostris…Amedeo…episcopi Diensi, Aymone cantore Gebennensi, Henrico, Roberto canonico Viennensi, Villelmo, Guigone", for the soul of "Humberti fratris nostri quondam comitis Gebennensis", by charter dated 1252[44].  "Amedeus…Dien. Ep. filius quondam D. Guillelmi bone memorie comitis Geben." delegated the execution of his father´s testament to "fratrem nostrum Rodulphum primogenitum", with the consent of "fratrum nostrorum…Henrici layci, Roberti canonici Vien., Guillelmi et Guigonis clericorum filiorum antedicti D. comitis Geben.", by charter dated 8 Jan 1253, witnessed by "Ay. dno. Fucign…Dne. Alaysie…matris nostre comitisse Gebenn…religiose Dne. Agathe sororis nostre Abbatisse de Monte…"[45].  Seigneur de Ternier et du Vuache.  Canon at Vienne 1252.  Provost at Lausanne 1255.  Bishop of Geneva 1276.  "Robertus…Gebenn. Ep." declared that "Aymo comes Gebenn…nepos noster" acted as guarantor for "Humbertum de Saysello dominum de Aquis" by charted dated 27 Apr 1277[46]. 

 

 

 

Chapter 5.    BISHOPS of LAUSANNE

 

 

 

1.         CONON, son of ULRIC Seigneur de Fenis & his wife [Adalguis ---] (-19 Dec [1103/07], bur Erlach abbey).  Bishop of Lausanne 1090.  The Gesta Episcoporum Lausannensium records the election of "Cono filius Uldrici comitis de Fenis" as bishop of Lausanne[47].  The  cartulary of Notre-Dame de Lausanne records that "Cono filius Uldrici comitis de Feni" succeeded "Lambertus filius Lamberti comitis de Granzun" as Bishop of Lausanne, founded "abbaciam Erlacensem" [Cerlier], was buried there, and that "Borcardus frater suus episcopus Basiliensis" who built "castrum de Cerlie" confirmed the foundation[48].  The Gesta Episcoporum Lausannensium records the death "XIV Kal Ian" of "Cono electus noster" and his burial "in abbacia Erlacensi"[49]. 

 

 

1.         GERAUD de Faucigny, son of GUILLAUME Seigneur de Faucigny & his wife Ottilie --- (-1 Jul 1129).  His parentage is confirmed by the charter dated 4 Sep 1119 by which "Wido…Gebennensis episcopus" donated "ecclesiam de Condominio" for the souls of "patris mei Ludovici et avi mei Ermenradi et Guillelmi fratris mei et filiorum eius Rodulfi, Ludoici, Raimundi et episcorum Geraldi Lausannensi et Amadei Morianensis nepotum meorum et matris eorum Utilie…" to Cluny[50].  Bishop of Lausanne [1105/07].  The  cartulary of Notre-Dame de Lausanne records that "Giroldus filius W. sapientis de Funcinie" succeeded as Bishop of Lausanne after the death of "Cono filius Uldrici comitis de Feni", and died "aput Sanctum Symphorianum…Kal Jul" and was buried "apud Lustriacum in capitulo kal Jul"[51]. 

 

 

1.         PHILIPPE de Savoie (Aiguebelle [1207]-Château de Roussillon, Bugey 16 Aug 1285, bur Abbaye de Hautecombe).  His parentage is established, inter alia, by the 1264 testament of his brother Boniface[52].  Archdeacon of Metz 1229.  "M. comitissa Sabaudie et marchisa in Ytalia et…Amedeus, Aymo, W. electus Valentinus, Thomas, Petrus, Bonifacius et Philippus filii Thome Comitis Sab. et marchionis in Ytalia" confirmed donations to Hautecombe abbey by charter dated 26 Feb 1231[53].  The second testament of "Amedeus comes Sabaudie", dated 19 Jul 1238, repeats the nomination of "Thomam fratrem suum" as his heir, substituting "Philippum, huic autem Petrum fratres suos" if Thomas died without male heirs[54], although it is unclear why the youngest brother Philippe should have been given precedence over Pierre in this document.  He was elected Bishop of Lausanne in 1239.  "Amedeus comes Sabaudie et in Italie marchio…cum…genetrice sua et fratribus suis B. Bellicensi Electo et Philippo Metensi Primicerio" granted "villam S. Mauritii de Chablaisio" {Saint-Maurice de Chablais} to "soror illorum Margareta comitissa de Kiborch" by charter dated 24 Feb 1240[55].  Bishop of Valence 1245.  Archbishop of Lyon 1246.  The testament of "Philippi de Sabaudia electi Lugdunensis", dated 26 May 1256, names "Petrus de Sabaudia frater et Beatrix comitissa Provinciæ" as his heirs, chooses burial at Hautecombe, and founds an anniversary at Valence for the soul of "defuncti fratris sui Willelmi, electi illius ecclesiæ"[56].  The testament of "Beatricis relictæ Raimundi Berengarii comitis Provinciæ", dated 14 Jan 1264, adds bequests to "Philippo electo Lugdun. fratri suo altero…", and appoints "…Philippum electum Lugdun. fratrem suum…" as her executors[57].  The testament of "Conte Pietro di Savoia", dated Sep 1264 named "…Philippo electo Lugdun. fratri suo…" and appointed "Philippi elect. Lugdun. fratris sui, Soffredi de Amaysino" as his executors[58].  He resigned his ecclesiastical appointments in 1267.  Comte Palatin de Bourgogne 1267-1279, by right of his wife.  He succeeded his brother in 1268 as PHILIPPE I Comte de Savoie.  He faced the continual opposition of his niece Beatrix Dauphine de Viennois, daughter of his predecessor, who claimed Savoy for her grandson Hugues de la Tour.  Comte Philippe was able to reaffirm his authority over Turin by defeating Guglielmo VII Marchese di Monferrato[59].  Pope Gregory X awarded him the title Gonfalionere of the Holy Church.  The testament of "Filippo Vescovo de Lione" dated 26 Jul 1256 names "Pietro di Savoia e Beatrice Contessa di Provenza, di Lui fratello e Sorella…Conte Tommaso di Lui fratello" and chooses to be buried "nella Chiesa de Haute Combe"[60].  The necrology of Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey records the death "XVI Kal Sep" of "Philippus comes Sabaudiæ"[61].  The necrology of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne records the death "XVI Kal Sep" of "dni Philippi quondam comitis Sabaudie"[62].