Guillaume Briçonnet

Guillaume Briçonnet (; 1445–14 December 1514) was a French cardinal and statesman.

Political career

Born at Tours, Guillaume Briçonnet was a younger son of Jean Briçonnet, Lord of Varennes, in Touraine, Secretary to the king and collector-general of Customs. Appointed Superintendent of Finances for the Province of Languedoc under Louis XI of France, Guillaume Briçonnet discharged the duties of his office with such integrity and efficiency, and showed himself so devoted to the interests of Louis that that monarch recommended him to his successor. Charles VIII of France made him Secretary of the Treasury. and restored by Pope Leo X to the Sacred College. He then retired to end his days at Narbonne, for which see he had exchanged Reims.

He died in Narbonne on 14 December 1514. He was buried in a superb mausoleum which he had built for himself in the church of Our Lady.

Family He married Raoulette de Beaune (died 1487) and they had five children, two of whom became bishops: Guillaume of Lodève and Meaux, and Denis of Toulon, Lodève and Saint-Malo.

Legacy

Whilst in power, Briçonnet showed himself a patron of men of letters; they dedicated their works to him and became his panegyrists. He was called oraculum regis and regni columna. His life was in fact swayed by ambition and occupied by intrigues. He composed a manual of Latin prayers, dedicated to Charles VIII. At Saint-Malo he issued several synodal instructions.