Philip II

Philip II (died 12 April 1237), called Philippe de Méréville or Philippe de Nemours, was the bishop of Châlons from 1228 until his death. He was a member of the nobility of the Île-de-France, and was a priest in Paris before coming to Châlons. As bishop, he was a consistent ally of Count Theobald IV of Champagne, in whose county his diocese lay.

Early life Philip was the second son of Orson I, lord of Méréville, and his wife Liesse. Orson himself was the son of Walter I, lord of Nemours. Philip's elder brother, Orson II, inherited Méréville while he was destined for the church. Two other brothers, Guillaume and Galeran, are barely mentioned and probably died young.

Philip became a canon at Notre Dame de Paris during the episcopate of his uncle, Pierre de Nemours (1208–19). His father did, however, provide him with material support by giving him suzerainty over the fief of Chevrainvilliers. In 1208, when the fiefholder, Gautier Giffard, gave the land of Verteau, which belonged to Chevrainvilliers to the hôtel-Dieu of Nemours without Philip's permission, the bishop intervened to negotiate a settlement wherein Gautier paid Philip 100 sols parisis for the violation. Philip was evidently already educated since he was titled magister in the final settlement. On 15 July 1235, he attended a church council at Saint-Quentin and on 3 August another one at Compiègne. In 1236, he joined several other bishops in supporting the efforts of Theobald, who had inherited the throne of Navarre, in 1234, to secure the rights to that throne for his daughter and heiress, Blanche, betrothed to the future John I, Duke of Brittany. He died in April 1237. The obituary of the Abbey of Barbeau gives the day as 15 April, while the anniversary of his death was commemorated annually on 8 April at Notre Dame de Paris. He left 500 livres parisis to Notre Dame for masses to be said for his soul. This money was delivered by his official, Gui de Palaiscau. He was succeeded as bishop by Geoffroy de Grand Pré.