Diocese of Soissons

The Diocese of Soissons, Laon, and Saint-Quentin (Latin: Dioecesis Suessionensis, Laudunensis et Sanquintinensis; French: Diocèse de Soissons, Laon et Saint-Quentin) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Reims and corresponds, with the exception of two hamlets, to the entire Department of Aisne. The current bishop is Renauld Marie François Dupont de Dinechin, appointed on 30 October 2015. In 2022, in the Diocese of Soissons there is one priest for every 5,594 Catholics.

History

Traditions make St. Sixtus and St. Sinicius the earliest apostles of Soissons as envoys of St. Peter.The earliest person known to have made this claim is Flodoard, abbot of S. Remy (Reims) (died 966). A different sentiment was expressed by the famous Hincmar of Reims (died 882), who placed Sixtus and Sinicius in the third century, not the first. Lequeux I, pp. 24–27. In the 280's the Caesar Maximian, the subordinate of the Emperor Diocletian, and his Praetorian Prefect Riccius Varus Compare: "He is most probably a fictitious character since there was no persecution of Christians in N. Gaul; this area was subject to the Caesar Constantius." campaigned in northeast Gaul and subdued the Bagaudae, an event accompanied by much slaughter. There were also executions of Christians from Trier to Reims.Laqueur, pp. 27–28. Allard reveals the hagiographic nature of the sources. St. Crepinus and St. Crepinianus, martyrs (c. 288), are patrons of the diocese. According to Louis Duchesne, the establishment of a see at Soissons dates from about 300.

Soissons played an important political role in the early history of the Merovingians. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Soissons, a remnant of the Roman Empire in northern Gaul, and remained one of the chief cities under King Clovis I. Subsequently, Soissons twice became the capital of one of the four kingdoms into which the Frankish kingdom was divided in 511 (under Chlothar I) and 561 (und Chilperic I, respectively.

The Bishop of Soissons was a senior suffragan of Reims with the privilege of replacing the archbishop at the ceremony of anointing a King of France, should the see of Reims be vacant. The Bishop of Laon ranked as Duke and peer from the twelfth century. As second ecclesiastical peer, he had the privilege of holding the ampulla during the anointing of the king.

During the arrest and trials of the Knights Templar in the fourteenth century, several knights came from different dioceses to answer against the charge of heresy. Guillaume de Roy, from the Diocese of Soissons, was one of the Templars who defended the Order.

The diocese of Soisson was re-established by the Concordat of 1802 as suffragan of Paris, but in 1821 it became suffragan of Reims. After an attempts to re-establish the See of Laon failed with the unexecuted Concordat of 11 June 1817, the bishop of Soissons was authorized by Pope Leo XII (13 June 1828) to join the title of Laon to that of his own see. Pope Leo XIII (11 June 1901) further authorized it to use the title of St-Quentin, which was formerly the residence of the bishop of Noyon.

The diocese consists of all the ancient Diocese of Soissons, except the civil district of Compiègne, which went to the Diocese of Beauvais all of the Diocese of Laon, except two parishes, which went to Reims that portion of Vermandois which formerly belonged to the Diocese of Noyon a few parishes which formerly belonged to Cambrai, Meaux, Troyes, Reims.

See of Laon

The "See of Laon" refers to the diocese of Laon, which was established by St. Remigius and made a "uterine sister" of Reims through an endowment from its lands 1 . The term "see" refers to the jurisdictional area of a bishop, and the "See of Laon" would have been the area over which the bishop of Laon had authority.

The diocese of Laon in the present-day département of Aisne, was a Catholic diocese for around 1300 years, up to the French Revolution. Its seat was in Laon, France, with the Laon Cathedral. From early in the 13th century, the bishop of Laon was a Pair de France, among the elite.

Bishops of Soissons

To 1000

Sixtus of ReimsGallia christiana IX, p. 334. Fisquet, p. 7. St Sinicus (ca. 300 – 310)Gallia christiana IX, p. 334. Fisquet, pp. 7–8. Gams, p. 632. St. Divitianus (ca. 310 – 320)Divitianus was nephew of Bishop Sinicus, who consecrated him a bishop. Fisquet, p. 8. Rufinus Filienus Mercurius (ca. 347)Mercurius subscribed to the Canons of the Concilium Agrippinense (Cologne) of 346. He attended the Council of Sardica in 347. Onesimus (c. 350–361) Vincent Luberan Onesimus II. Edibius (c. 431–62); St Edibus (c. 451) Principius (462–505), brother of St. Remy of Reims. Lupus (505–35);St Loup was present at the First Council of Orleans in 511: Sirmond, I, p. 844. Baldarinus (Baudry) (535 – 545)King Chlothar I exiled Bishop Baldarinus (or Bandaridus) to England for seven years, where he served as gardener in a monastery. Gallia christiana IX, pp. 335–336. Fisquet, pp. 10–11. Anectarius († 573) Thibaut I. Droctigisilus († c. 589)Bishop Droctigisilus is mentioned by Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum, Book IX, chapter 37, as having suffered from habitual drunkenness. Gallia christiana IX, p. 336. Fisquet, pp. 11–12. Tondulphus Landulphus St. Ansericus or Anscher (623–52); St Ansery († c. 652) Bettolenus St. Drausinus (657–676),Drausinus was founder of the monastery of Notre Dame de Soissons and of the Abbey of Rethondes. Fisquet, pp. 14–15. Gams, p. 632 Warembert St. Adolbertus (677–85); St Adalbert S. Gaudinus (685–707),Gaudinus was waylaid by usurers in a street near the episcopal residence and thrown down a well. When the townsfolk heard what had happened and came to see, he was already dead. The only source for the tale is the Martyrologium Gallicanum, quoted in Gallia christiana IX, p. 339. Fisquet, p. 17. Macarius Galcoin Gobald Hubert (Gerarbert) Maldabert Deodatus I. Hildegodus (Hildegondus (c. 765)Gallia christiana IX, pp. 339–340. Rothadus (814–831)Rothadus was named royal missus dominicus by King Louis the Pious in the diocese of Reims in 824/825 when Archbishop Ebo went to Denmark to reinstall King Harald on the throne. Gallia christiana IX, p. 340. Fisquet, pp. 19–20. Rothadus (832–869)Rothadus famous for his quarrel with Archbishop Hincmar of Reims, who had him deposed. Gallia christiana IX, pp. 340–343. Fisquet, pp. 20–24. On 28 April 363, Pope Nicholas I wrote to Rothadus, telling him to be of good cheer and to continue in his appeals to Rome. In September 363, Nicholas ordered Hincmar to send Bishop Rothadus and his accusors to Rome by 1 April 864. In May 864, Pope Nicholas wrote to Hincmar, complaining that Rothadus had neither been restored nor sent to Rome for judgment, and indeed that he had been detained (Hincmar had ordered Rothadus imprisoned in a monastery). On 20 January 865, Pope Nicholas wrote to Bishop Rothadus, who had been restored to his diocese of Soissons, restoring his possessions. P. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I, editio altera (Leipzig 1885), nos. 2720, 2721, 2727, 2740, 2756 and 2781. [Engelmond (863–864)]Engelmond was chosen to replace Rothadus when he was deposed, but Pope Nicholas I wrote to Hincmar, forbidding him to consecrate Engelmondus until after the Pope heard Rothadus' appeal against the Council which had deposed him. Rothadus was restored in 865. In a subsequent letter to Charles the Bald, Pope Nicholas calls Engelmond an invasor. Gallia christiana IX, p. 344. Mansi, XV, p. 690. Fisquet, p. 25. Jaffé, no. 2721. Hildebold (Hildebaud) (870–884)Fisquet, pp. 25–26. Riculfus (Riculf) (884–902) Rodoin († c. 909) Abbo (Chancellor of France 922–931, † 937) Guido of Anjou († 973) Guido of Amiens († 995)

1000–1500

Fulco († 6 August 1019)Fulco is attested in 997, 1005, 1008, 1011 and 1017. Gallia christiana IX, p. 347. Gams, p. 633. Deodatus II (1019 – 1020)Gallia christiana IX, p. 347. Gams, p. 633. Beroldus († 1052)Beroldus was a brother of Count Notker, and a nephew of Bishop Fulco. Gallia christiana IX, pp. 347–348. Gams, p. 633. Heddo († 1064) Adelard († 1072) Thibaut de Pierrefonds († 1080) Ursion (1080, deposed) St. Arnuel de Paméle (1081–1082) Ingelram Hilgot (c. 1084 – 1087) Henry of Poitou (1088–1090)Bishop Henri: Gams, p. 633. Hugues de Pierrefonds (1091 – 30 January 1103)Pierre de Pierrefonds: Fisquet, pp. 42–44. Gams, p. 633. Manasses of Soissons (1103 – 1 March 1108)Manasses of Soissons (there was also a contemporary Manasses of Châtillon and a Manasses of Reims) had previously been Bishop of Cambrai. He was present as Bishop of Soissons at the Council of Troyes in April 1104. Fisquet, p. 44. Gams, p. 633. Liziard de Crépy (1108-† c.1126)Liziard de Crépy: Fisquet, pp. 44–48. Jocelyn de Vierzy (1126 – 24 October 1152)Bishop Jocelyn de Vierzy was previously Archdeacon of Bourges and Archdeacon of Soissons (where he resided from 1115). He wrote an explanation of the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer, a work of no importance. Fisquet, pp. 48–51. Ansculfe de Pierrefonds (1152–1158)Gallia christiana IX, pp. 360–361. Hugues de Champfleury (1159–75), chancellor of Louis VII of France; [(1158–1175) (Chancellor of France 1150–1172) Nivelon de Quierzy (1175–1207)Gallia christiana IX, pp. 362–365. Aymard de Provins (July 1208 – 20 May 1219)Fisquet, p. 60. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468. Jacques de Bazoches (July 1219 – 8 July 1242)Fisquet, pp. 60–63. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468, with note 1. Raoul de Couduno (by 1244 – 6 December 1245)Gams, pp. 63–64. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468. Gui de Château Porcein (1245 – 1250)Guy resigned in 1250, accompanied St. Louis on the Crusade, and was killed in Palestine. Fisquet, p. 64. (1252 – 10 February 1262)Fisquet, pp. 64–65. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468. Milon de Bazoches (1262 – 24 September 1290)Fisquet, pp. 65–66. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468. Gérard de Montcornet (23 March 1292 – 1 September 1296)Gérard de Montcornet was the nephew of Bishop Milon de Bazoches. He died in Bari, while returning from a pilgrimage. Fisquet, pp. 66–67. Gams, p. 633. Eubel, I, p. 468. Guy de La Charité (30 July 1296 – 8 July 1313)Fisquet, pp. 67–68. Eubel, I, p. 468. Gérard de Courtonne (27 August 1313 – 27 October 1331)Fisquet, pp. 68–69. Eubel, I, p. 468. Pierre de Chappes (13 November 1331 – September 1349)Fisquet, pp. 69–70. Eubel, I, p. 468. Guillaume Bertrand de Colombier (31 October 1349 – 15 May 1362)Fisquet, p. 70. Eubel, I, p. 468. Simon de Bucy (10 June 1362 – 14 October 1404)Simon was the son of Simon de Bucy, First President of the Parlement de Paris. He held synods in 1381 and 1403. Fisquet, pp. 70–71. Eubel, I, p. 468. Victor de Camerin (20 October 1404 – 13 January 1414)Bishop Victor attended the Council of Pisa. Fisquet, p. 71. Eubel, I, p. 468. Nicolas Graibert (11 February 1414 – November 1442)Graibert was born at Vervins, and was a Master of Arts. Around the time of his accession, the diocese was attacked by John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy; Soissons was taken, and then retaken and sacked by the King's forces. Fisquet, pp. 71–72. Eubel, I, p. 468. Renaud de Fontaines (8 January 1423 – 1442)Fisquet, p. 72. Eubel, I, p. 468. Jean Milet (15 February 1443 – 1 April 1503)Fisquet, pp. 72–74. Eubel, II, p. 243.

1500–1790

Claude de Louvain (24 April 1503 – 18 August 1514)Louvain was transferred to the diocese of Sisteron on 18 August 1514. He died in 1520. Eubel, II, p. 243; III, p. 301. Foucault de Bonneval (1514–1519)Bonneval was later Bishop of Bazas (1528–1531). Fisquet, pp. 74–76. Eubel, III, p. 301 and 327. Symphorien de Bullioud (1519–1532) Mathieu de Longuejoue (1533–1557)De Longuejoue: Fisquet, pp. 78–79. Charles de Roucy (1557 – 1585)Charles de Roucy: Fisquet, pp. 79–81. Jérôme Hennequin (1585 – 1619)Hennequin: Fisquet, pp. 81–82. Charles de Hacqueville (1619 – 1623)Hacqueville: Fisquet, pp. 82–83. Simon Legras (1623 – 1656)Legras: Fisquet, pp. 83–84.