Henri de Bourbon, duc de Verneuil

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Henri de Bourbon, duc de Verneuil

Henri de Bourbon, duc de Verneuil (born November 3, 1601 in Vincennes Castle ; † May 28, 1682 in Verneuil-en-Halatte ) was an illegitimate son of Henry IV of France with his mistress Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues , Marquise by Verneuil, who was legitimized in 1603.

Henri was installed as Bishop of Metz (until 1652) at the age of eleven in 1612 and owned the Abbey of St. Germain-des-Prés and approximately £ 400,000 income from spiritual benefits . Pope Innocent X refused him the cardinal's hat his father had asked for because of his illegitimate descent. He was never ordained a priest, however, and eventually pursued a secular career, returning his ecclesiastical benefices between 1652 and 1659.

In 1661 he was made knight of the royal orders ( Order of the Holy Spirit and Order of Michael ) and in 1663 Duke and Peer of France with the title duc de Verneuil . In 1665 he went to England as Ambassador Extraordinary . In 1666 he became governor of Languedoc . In 1668 he married Charlotte Séguier (1622–1704), the daughter of the Chancellor and Governor of Languedoc, Pierre Séguier , and widow of Maximilien III. de Béthune, duc de Sully († 1662). The marriage remained childless. He died in Verneuil Castle in 1682.

Henri de Verneuil was considered a righteous and honest man.

Literature and web links

predecessor Office successor
Anne of Perusse d'Escars Bishop of Metz
1612–1652
Jules Mazarin