Charles de Hémard de Denonville

Detail of monument to Charles de Hémard de Denonville in Amiens Cathedral.

Charles de Hémard de Denonville (1493–1540) was a French Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.

Biography

Charles de Hémard de Denonville was born in Denonville in 1493, the son of Pierre Hémard, signeur de Denonville, and Jeanne Frémiere.^[1] He was educated at the Collège de Le Mans in Paris, becoming a doctor of both laws.^[2]

After completing his education, he became a secretary of Cardinal Philippe de Luxembourg.^[3] In 1515, he obtained the benefice of Notre-Dame de Sanchez, Cahors, and in 1517, the benefice of Dangeau.^[4] Also in 1517, he became a canon of the cathedral chapter of Tours Cathedral.^[5]

He was ordained as a priest on Easter Sunday, 1518.^[6] Following the death of Cardinal Philippe de Luxembourg in 1518, Hémard de Denonville became secretary of Cardinal Adrian Gouffier de Boissy; pastor of Saint-Gabriel de Vignoux, Bourges; and a canon of Coutances Cathedral, later its archdeacon.^[7] In 1520, he became a protonotary apostolic; in 1521, prior of Saint-Pierre de Aubiers Abbey in Luçon; in 1522, pastor of Saint-Firmin de Asnières; and in 1523, prior of Saint-Jean des Grèves.^[8]

He became a royal chaplain to Francis I of France in January 1526.^[9] In 1528, he became a member of the Conseil du Roi.^[10] He also became president of the Royal Ecclesiastical Department.^[11] He also became a datary attached to the legation to the Kingdom of France, continuing to hold this post even after promotion to the episcopate.^[12]

On January 23, 1531, he was elected bishop of Mâcon.^[13] In November 1533, he became France's ambassador to the pope in Rome, and he occupied that post from May 1534 to May 1538.^[14] In 1535, he became abbot of Saint-Aubin de Angers.^[15]

At the request of Francis I of France, Pope Paul III created him a cardinal priest in the consistory of December 22, 1536.^[16] He received the red hat the next day and the titular church of San Matteo in Via Merulana on January 15, 1537.^[17]

On December 9, 1538, he was named administrator of the see of Amiens.^[18]

He traveled to Le Mans with Cardinal Jean du Bellay and there fell ill on August 17, 1540, and died in Le Mans on August 23, 1540.^[19] He received heart burial: his heart was buried in Le Mans Cathedral and his body was buried in Amiens Cathedral.^[20]

References

1. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
2. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
3. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
4. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
5. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
6. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
7. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
8. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
9. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
10. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
11. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
12. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
13. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
14. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
15. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
16. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
17. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
18. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
19. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
20. ↑ Entry from Biographical Dictionary of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church