Barthelemy Camelin

Barthélemy Camelin (* around 1560 in Fréjus ; † June 15, 1637 ibid) was a French Roman Catholic clergyman and bishop .

life and career

Origin and advancement

Camelin came from a merchant family of Italian origin, who conquered all important offices in Fréjus during the late 16th century. He received the tonsure at an early age , completed a licentiate in canon law and became cathedral chapter in 1577 . From then on he fought for himself step by step and using all means (including financial) the office of bishop, benefiting from the fact that one was in a time of civil war and that he sided with the later victor, Henry IV. , During the In 1591 Gérard Bellenger was appointed to the league and never entered his diocese.

Grave statues of Barthélemy and Pierre Camelin in the Cathedral of Fréjus

Bishop of Fréjus

After Bellenger's death in 1599 and his recognition by Rome, he was ordained a priest, moved solemnly into the cathedral of Fréjus on January 1, 1600 and was consecrated there by the bishops of Grasse , Glandèves and Toulon on January 30 . The sources attest Camelin an impeccable administration that lasted nearly 40 years. His efforts to settle numerous orders in the diocese are particularly emphasized. He died in 1637. He was followed by his nephew Pierre Camelin , whom he had made his coadjutor in 1621 . His episcopal motto was: Deo favente (with God's blessing). During his lifetime he had his (kneeling) statue chiseled for installation in the cathedral, which can still be viewed today.

literature

• Hippolyte Espitalier (1844–1905): Les évêques de Fréjus du XIIIe à la fin du XVIIIe Siècle . Draguignan 1898, pp. 203-233. (on-line)
• Louis Porte: Histoire du diocèse de Fréjus-Toulon . Editions du Lau 2017, pp. 61–62.
• Michel Fixot (* 1941) (Ed.): Le groupe épiscopal de Fréjus . Brepols, Turnhout 2012, p. 117.

Web links

• Short biography , French
• Entry in catholic-hierarchy.org
• Monument page , with picture