The Archdiocese of Embrun was a Catholic jurisdiction located in southeastern France, in the mountains of the Maritime Alps, on a route that led from Gap by way of Briançon to Turin. It had as suffragans the Diocese of Digne, Diocese of Antibes and Grasse, Diocese of Vence, Diocese of Glandèves, Diocese of Senez and Diocese of Nice. Its see was the Cathedral of Nôtre Dame in Embrun.

The former Archdiocese of Embrun was suppressed after the French Revolution. It was replaced, under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) by a diocese which had the same boundaries of the civil departement in which it was located. The diocese was called 'Haute-Alpes', with its center at Gap.

When the Diocese of Gap was re-established in 1822 it comprised, besides the ancient Diocese of Gap, a large part of the ancient Archdiocese of Embrun. The name of the metropolitan see of Embrun, however, had been absorbed in the title of the Archbishop of Aix-en-Provence and Arles, until 2007. In 2008, the title of Embrun was reattached to the Diocese of Gap by papal decree of Pope Benedict XVI.Papal bull on the Diocese of Gap website

History

Tradition ascribes the evangelization of Embrun to Saints Nazarius and Celsus, martyrs under emperor Nero. Gregory of Tours states that they were martyred at Embrun. Their bodies, however, were discovered in a cemetery in Milan by Saint Ambrose. They were also drowned at Trier, on orders of the Emperor Nero. Their entire story is without historical foundation, and a mass of contradictions and improbabilities. According to another tradition, the first Bishop of Embrun, Saint Marcellus, was such a successful preacher that, by the end of his episcopacy, there was not a single pagan left in the diocese.

The see became an archbishopric about 800. In 1056 Pope Victor confirmed the Archbishop of Embrun as Metropolitan of the Sees of Digne, Chorges, Solliès, Senez, Glandèves, Cimiez-Nice, Vence, and Antibes (Grasse). Bishop WinimannThe name is also spelled Viminian, Vivemnus, Wimman, Guiniman, Guitmund, and Guiriman: Fisquet, p. 843. was also granted the palliumFisquet, p. 844. It is pointed out that two of the bishoprics no longer existed in 1076, and it is suggested that the list is a later addition to the document. In 1276 the Archbishops of Embrun were made Princes of the Holy Roman Empire.

The see was suppressed in the French Revolution, being transferred to the diocese of Gap, and the cathedral church became a mere parish church.

Notable Bishops of Embrun

St. Guillaume (1120–34), founder of the Abbey of Boscodon;The abbey was actually founded by Guillaume and Pierre de Montmirail in 1130; in 1132 the Benedictine Rule was adopted; in 1142 the Bishop of Embrun, another Guillaume, thought the monks so mediocre that he imported several monks from Chalais. Henry of Segusio (1250–71), known as (H)Ostiensis, i.e. Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, an orator and canonist of renown; Bertrand de Déaulx (1323–38), who as the legate of Clement VI at Rome did much to bring about the downfall of Rienzi; Giulio de' Medici (1510–11), later pope under the name of Clement VII; Cardinal François de Tournon (1517–26), employed on diplomatic missions by King Francis I of France, and founder of the College de Tournon; Cardinal de Tencin (1724–40), who in September 1727, caused the condemnation by the Council of Embrun of the *Jansenist Soanen, Bishop of his suffragan see of Senez. St. Vincent Ferrer preached several missions against the Vaudois in the Diocese of Embrun.

Bishops

† by 374: Marcellinus.Duchesne, p. 290, argues that his consecration took place in the 360s. 374: Artemius c. 400: JacobCf. Duchesne, p. 291 n.1, who indicates that there is nothing to show that Armentarius or Jacobus were bishops of Embrun. 439: ArmentariusIn the episcopal election at Embrun in 438, two factions elected two bishops in the midst of threats and violence, especially involving laypersons; one of the elect, Armentarius, was below the canonical age for consecration, but, without the knowledge and consent of the bishops of the province, he got two bishops somehow to consecrate him. The matter was brought to the Council of Riez, which met on 29 November 439, fourteen bishops being present. The election was annulled as uncanonical, and Armentarius, who had resigned before he received the summons to attend the Council, was treated leniently and given the status of chorepiscopus, though it was made clear that this did not involve any of the prerogatives of a legitimate bishop. Sirmond, pp. 439–448. Duchesne, p. 291. 440-† ca 475:Ingenuus was present at the Council of Orange on 4 November 441: He was also at the Council of Arles in 451 and the Council of Arles in 455. He corresponded with Pope Hilarius (461-468), and took part in the Council of Rome of 19 November 465. His episcopate might have lasted until c. 475 or even 487. Fisquet, pp. 814–816. Gallia christiana III, pp. 1058–1059. Ingenuus 517: CatulinusCatulinus took part in the Council of Epaona on 6 September 517: Sirmond, p. 899. In attempting to apply the canons to Embrun, however, he aroused the anger of the Arian aristocracy, who drove him into exile. He lived in Vienne for four or five years. Fisquet, pp. 816–817. GallicanusLa Grande Encyclopédie précise que Gallican I a été expulsé de son siège par les Ariens. La source fait peut être une confusion avec Catulin (cf. note n°4). Palladius of Embrun 541-549: GallicanusLe Trésor de Chronologie précise qu'il faut peut être identifier Gallican II avec Gallican I. 567-579: SaloniusSalonius was summoned before the Second Council of Lyon in 567, to explain his notorious lifestyle; he was deposed, but he appealed to King Guntram, who used his influence with Pope John III (561-574) to have Salonius reinstated. He was deposed a second time at the Council of Châlons in 579 and locked up in a monastery. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book V, chapter xx. Sirmond, pp. 1163–1164. Fisquet, pp. 822–823. Emeritus 585- 588Emeritus was present at the Council of Macon in 585. Duchesne, p. 291, no. 7. Lopacharus 614Lopacharus was present at the Council of Paris in 641. Duchesne, p. 291, no. 8. c. 630: Albin c. 650 to c. 653: Ætherius [Chramlinus]Duchesne, p. 292, no. 10. Chramlinus is mentioned in a document of Thierry III of 677 as a usurper of the See of Embrun. [c. 740: Vualchinus], founded Novalesa Abbey.Fornier, Marcellin (1592-1649), Histoire générale des Alpes Maritimes ou Cottiènes : et particulière de leur métropolitaine, Embrun. Cf. , where it is stated that the monastery was founded in 726, and that its Founder was a rich Frank by the name of Abbone. The original charter of foundation survives, dated 30 January 726: Cipolla pp. 7–13. On p. 8, in the note, he records that 'Walchunus' (Vualchinus) was not a bishop of Embrun, citing B. Hauréau and Jules Marion. c. 791–794: Marcellus

Archbishops

c. 800–1200

Bernardus 829: AgericusAgericus was invited to the Council of Lyon of 829. Duchesne, p. 292, no. 11. c. 853 to c. 859: Aribertus (or Arbertus)Aubert participated in the Assembly of Salmorenc in the diocese of Vienne in 858. Fisquet, p. 833. 876: Bermond 878: Aribert II. 886: Ermoldus (or Ermaldus or Ermold) 886 or 887Fisquet, p. 834. Duchesne, p. 292 n. 6, suggests that Ermoldus is the same as Arnaldus (Arnaud). 890-899: Arnaud (or Arnaudus)Bishop Arnaldus took part in the Council of Valence in 890; in 899 he presided at the consecration of Ragenfredus as Archbishop of Vienne: Duchesne, p. 292, no. 15. 900–916: Benedict 920: Liberalis of Embrun (920–40) 943–960: Boson c. 970: Amadeus 992: Pontius 1007–1010: Ismidias c. 1016 to c. 1027: Radon c. 1033–1044: Ismidon c. 1048: Vivemnus (Winnamanus) 1050–1054: Guinervinarius 1054–1055: Hugues 1055–1065: WinnimanusWinnimanus was the recipient of a privilege from Pope Victor II (1055-1057) in July 1056: Gallia christiana III, Instrumenta pp. 177–179. The document also recalls the preaching of Bishop Marcellinus. (Guinamand) 1066–1077: Guillaume 1077: Peter c. 1080–1084: Lantelmus 1105–1118: Benedict II. 1120–1134: Guillaume II. 1135 to 7 December 1169: Guillaume III. 9 January 1170 to 1176: Raimond I. c. 1177–1189: Pierre II. Romain 1189–1208: Guillaume IV. de Benevento

c. 1200–1500

1208 to c. 1212: Raimond II. Sédu 1212 to c. 1235: Bernard ChabertMaster Bernard Chabert was Chancellor of Paris when he was chosen to be Bishop of Geneva in 1206. In October of 1212 he was chosen to be Archbishop of Embrun, and as archbishop he attended the Council of Montpellier in January 1216, which took up the problem of the Albigensian heresy and the war between Simon de Montfort and Count Raymond VI of Toulouse. He was chosen to be the Procurator who carried the Decrees of the Council to Pope Innocent III for approval. While in Rome he participated in the IV Lateran Council of November 1215. The Pope confirmed the decrees of the Council of Montpellier on 2 April 1216. In 1218 Bernard helped arrange the marriage of Beatrix, daughter of the Dauphin André, and Amaury the son of Simon de Montfort; this alliance brought Amaury the counties of Embrun and Gap. Fisquet, pp. 861–868. 1236 to 23. May 1245: Aimar 1246–1250: Humbert 1250 to May 1262: Henri de Suse (Henricus de Bartholomeis) 1263–1286:Eubel, I, p. 234. There was no Bishop Melchior 1267–1275: Albanès, Gallia christiana novissima, p. xiii. Jacques SérèneIn 1276 Rudolph, King of the Romans, confirmed all the privileges granted by his predecessors to the Bishops of Embrun, and in addition made him a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. D. de Saint-Marthe, Gallia christiana Tomus III (Paris 1725), Instrumenta, pp. 182–183. 4 August 1286 to 1289: Guillaume V. 8 October 1289 to 28 June 1294: Raimond de Médullion 28 March 1295 to 26 May 1311: Guillaume de MandagotGuillaume de Mandagot was appointed Archbishop of Embrun by Pope Boniface VIII on Palm Sunday, 28 March 1295, and two weeks later was consecrated by the Pope. D. de Saint-Marthe, Gallia christiana Tomus III (Paris 1725), Instrumenta, p. 183. Fisquet, p. 81. He received the pallium on the following Thursday. (promoted to the See of Aix)Eubel, I, p. 96. 22 May 1311 to 1317: Jean du Puy, O.P. 1319 to c. 1323: Raimond IV. Robaud 5 September 1323 to 1338: Bertrand de Déaulx 27. January 1338 to 17. December 1350: Pasteur de Sarrats, O.Min. 16. February 1351 to 1361: Guillaume VII. de Bordes 1361–1364:Eubel, I, p. 77 and 234: 18 June 1361 to 10 January 1364. On 10 January Raymond was appointed Patriarch of Antioch and Bishop of Agen. Raimond V. de Salges 8 January 1364 to 5. September 1365: Bertrand II. de Castelnau 1365–1366: Bernard II. 1366 to 18 December 1378: Pierre Amelii (d'Ameil) 20 May 1379 to 1 May 1427: Michel Etienne Delisle (de Insula), appointed by Pope Clement VII of the Avignon Obedience 30 July 1427 to 7 September 1432: Jacques Gélu 1432 to 17 January 1457: Jean II. Girard 1457 to c. 1470: Jean III de Montmagny c. 1470–1494: Jean IV. Baile 1494–1510: Rostaing d'AncezuneRostaing was promoted from the diocese of Fréjus on 26 November 1494: Eubel, II, p. 148. He died in Rome on 27 July 1510: Eubel, III, p. 190, n. 3. Fisquet, 926-927.

from 1500

1510–1511: Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici 1511–1516: Niccolò Fieschi (Fiesque), Cardinal 1517–1525: François de Tournon 1526–1551: Antoine de Lévis de Château-Morand 1551–1555: Balthasar de Jarente 1555: Louis de Laval de Bois-Dauphin 1556–1560: Robert Cardinal de Lenoncourt 1561–1600: Guillaume d'Avançon de Saint-Marcel, Cardinal 1601–1612: Honoré du Laurens 1612–1648: Guillaume d'Hugues