Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord
Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord was a French churchman and politician who served as Archbishop of Reims and later Archbishop of Paris. He was a prominent figure during the French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic era, enduring exile before returning to France during the Restoration. He played a key role in the Concordat of 1817 and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal.
Key Facts
- ›Attended Jesuit school of La Flèche and Saint-Sulpice seminary, graduating with a degree in theology.
- ›Served as Bishop coadjutor of Reims from 1766 and elevated to Archbishop of Reims in 1777.
- ›Emigrated in 1790 due to the CIVIL Constitution of the Clergy and lived in exile in Germany and England.
- ›Refused to resign his position as Archbishop of Reims in 1801 following the Concordat with Napoleon.
- ›Became representative of Louis XVIII in exile and was appointed Grand Almoner of France.
- ›Created Cardinal in 1817 and named Archbishop of Paris later that year.
Bishop Coadjutor of Reims, Archbishop of Reims, Grand Almoner of France, Representative of Louis Xviii In Exile, Cardinal, Archbishop of Paris, Architect of the Concordat of 11 June 1817
About Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord
Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord (1736–1821) was a notable French churchman and politician, recognized for his significant ecclesiastical roles and his involvement in the tumultuous political landscape of late 18th and early 19th century France. He was the paternal uncle of the more widely known diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.
Education and Early Career
His early education took place at the Jesuit school of La Flèche en Sarthe, followed by studies at the Saint-Sulpice seminary in Paris, where he earned a degree in theology. He further pursued legal studies, obtaining a license in both canon and civil law from Reims. Ordained a priest in 1761, his ecclesiastical career advanced rapidly. He served as vicar general of the diocese of Verdun, was elected bishop in partibus of Trajanopolis, and appointed Bishop coadjutor of Reims in 1766. He also held the esteemed position of Grand Almoner of France. In 1777, he was elevated to the Archbishopric of Reims and concurrently became Abbot commendatory of the abbey Notre-Dame de Cercamp until 1789.
Political Involvement and Exile
Talleyrand-Périgord was an active participant in church and state affairs, serving as a member of the Assembly of the Clergy (1780–1788), the Assembly of Notables (1787), and as a deputy of the clergy to the Estates General of 1789. The advent of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy led him to emigrate in 1790, spending time in exile in Aix-la-Chapelle, Weimar, and Brunswick. During his exile, he maintained his position as Archbishop of Reims, refusing to submit to the Concordat between the Pope and Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801. In 1803, he became the representative of the exiled Bourbon heir, Louis XVIII, accompanying him to England where they resided at Gosfield Hall and Hartwell House. Louis XVIII appointed him Grand Almoner in 1808, a role he continued to hold after the Bourbon Restoration.
Restoration and Cardinalate
Upon the first Restoration in 1814, he returned to France. He briefly followed Louis XVIII into exile again during the Hundred Days in 1815. Following the second Restoration, he was made a Peer of France. He formally resigned the Archbishopric of Reims on November 8, 1816. A key figure in ecclesiastical diplomacy, he was instrumental in the Concordat of 11 June 1817. Pope Pius VII recognized his contributions by creating him a Cardinal during the consistory of July 28, 1817. He was subsequently named Archbishop of Paris on October 1, 1817, though his installation did not occur until 1819. He held the Commander of the Order of the Holy Spirit distinction.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord?
Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord was a French churchman and politician. He held significant ecclesiastical positions, including Archbishop of Reims and later Archbishop of Paris, and was created a Cardinal.
What was his role during the French Revolution and Napoleonic era?
Following the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, he emigrated in 1790. He refused to resign his Archbishopric of Reims in 1801 and later served as the representative for the exiled heir Louis XVIII.
When did he return to France and what positions did he hold?
He returned to France during the first Restoration in 1814. After the second Restoration, he became a Peer of France, resigned the Archbishopric of Reims, and was named Archbishop of Paris.
What was his involvement in the Concordat of 1817?
Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord was one of the main architects of the Concordat of 11 June 1817. This agreement was significant in reconciling the French state with the Catholic Church.
Was he related to Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord?
Yes, Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord was the paternal uncle of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, another prominent figure in French church and politics.
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