The Diocese of Angoulême (Latin: Dioecesis Engolismensis; French: Diocèse d'Angoulême) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. Originally erected in the 3rd century, the episcopal see is the Angoulême Cathedral. Comprising the département of the Charente, the diocese had traditionally been suffragan to the Archbishopric of Bordeaux, under the old régime as well as under the Concordat, but since 2002 is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Poitiers.
In 2022, in the Diocese of Angoulême there was one priest for every 4,981 Catholics.
History Its first bishop was Ausonius, a disciple, it is said, of Saint Martial. According to Gregory of Tours Martial preached the gospel in Limoges about the year 250; the Limousin traditions, as set down by the chronicler Adhémar de Chabannes, maintain that Martial was the immediate disciple of Saint Peter. According to the latter opinion St. Ausonius was a bishop of the first century; according to the former, of the third century. At least one modern historian believes it likely that Ausonius lived even later, in the 4th century.Favreau, 9. His cult, however, does not appear until the end of the tenth century.
The Gallia Christiana lists St. Salvius, honoured as a martyr at Valenciennes, as a Bishop of Angoulême. The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, however, considers him to have been only a missionary bishop of the eighth century. In the list of the Bishops of Angoulême is found the name of the poet Octavien de St. Gelais (1494–1502).
The religious monuments of the province of Angoumois are remarkable for their admirable Romano-Byzantine façades. The most beautiful of them is St. Peter's Cathedral at Angoulême. The original cathedral was dedicated to Saint Saturninus, but it was destroyed by the Arian Visigoths. After the defeat of Alaric II in 507, King Clovis had his chaplain Aptonius made bishop and had the cathedral rebuilt and named in honor of Saint Peter.Gallia christiana II, pp. 977–978. This story, retailed by the chronographer Adhemar, is rejected by Duchesne, p. 68, note 4. It was consecrated around 570, according to tradition by Saint Germain, Bishop of Paris. The cathedral was ravaged again, this time by the Normans, in the middle of the ninth century. It was rebuilt by Bishop Grimoard and dedicated in 1017. The present edifice is the work of Bishop Gérard II de Blaye, the Papal Legate, ca. 1109–1120. Gallia christiana II, p. 998. Antoine-Charles Cousseau, Discours sur la dédicace et sur l'histoire de l'église cathedrale d'Angoulême (Angouleme: J. Girard 1869). The cathedral was administered by a Chapter, composed of a Dean, the Archdeacon, the Treasurer, and twenty-one Canons. There were also a Cantor and Scholasticus, but they did not have a vote in Chapter unless they were also Canons.Gallia christiana II, pp. 975–976. Cf. Ritzler, VI, p. 209 note 1, states that there were five dignities and twenty-one Canons in 1753.
The memory of a wealthy and famous Augustinian abbey, founded in 1122, is kept alive by its ruins at Couronne, near Angoulême.
In 1236, the Jewish community of Angouleme, along with those in Anjou, Poitou, and Bordeaux, was attacked by crusaders. 500 Jews from these communities chose conversion and over 3000 were massacred. Pope Gregory IX, who originally had called the crusade, was outraged about this brutality and criticized the clergy of the diocese of Angoulême for not preventing it.http://ecc.pima.edu/~jmills/Austria/7-9_Grade_Review_Activity_Medieval_Austria_1236-1328.pdf
Bishops of Angoulême to 1000
Ausonius (4th century) Dynamius (before 431–451 or later)Favreau, 10. Lupicinus (511 or before – 541 or later)Lupicinus was present at the Council of Orléans of 511, the Council of Orleans of 533, and was represented at the Council of Orleans of 541. C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnhout: Brepols 1963), pp. 13, 102, 145. Favreau, p. 10 Aptonius (542–566)Apt(h)onius took part in the Council of Orléans of 549. De Clercq, p. 159. Duchesne, pp. 68–69 no. 4. Favreau, 10–11. Maracharius or Mererius (567–573)In his seventh year he was poisoned. Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum IV. 26. Favreau, 11. Frontonius (573–574)Favreau, 11–12. Heraclius (c. 574–c. 580)Favreau, 12. Nicasius (before 584–c. 590 or after)Favreau, 12–13. Bassolus (614)Favreau, 13. Namatius (626/627–637) Ebargehenus (mid 7th century)Favreau, 14. Tomanius (662/675–677)Favreau, 14–15. Ardoin (late 7th century – early 8th)Some lists note a Landebertus and Saint Salvius as bishops in the 8th century. Landebertus is only found as having attended a council at Narbonne in 788, but this is apocryphal. Traditionally named a bishop of Angoulême, Saint Sauve is found on some later lists, but his vita was written soon after his death and makes no mention of Angoulême. Favreau, 14. Sidranius (first half of the 9th century) Fredebert (835)Favreau, 14–15, also notes a Bishop Autbertus in 844, but he only appears in the Chronicle of Saint-Maixent, which is probably derived from a spurious charter. His existence is therefore doubtful. Launus (848 – January 25, 861 or 862)Favreau, 16. Helias Scotigena (862–c. 875)A bishop Girbaldus is noted in the Annales Engolismenses (MGH SS, 4:5 and 16:486) as dying in 864, but he is not attested to in any other document and Helias attended a church council in 862 (the Concilium Pistense). J.-D. Mansi (ed.) Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio editio novissima XV (Venice: A. Zatta 1770), p. 633. Gallia christiana II, p. 984. Favreau, 16–17. Oliba (c. 875 – September 3, 892)Favreau, 17. However, Oliba may have been bishop as early as 869, as Helias is last seen at the council of Vermery in 869. Debord, 93. Anatolius (892 – March or April 895)Favreau, 17. Gombaud (March 2, 897 – March 23, 940)A bishop Godalbert, who would have been bishop between Anatolius and Gombaud, is found on a twelfth-century episcopal list which does not include his date of death (while it does for surrounding bishops). Puybaudet, "Une liste épiscopale d’Angoulême," 282. Not attested to in any other document, Favreau rejects his existence, noting that his name might have been confused with Gumbaldus (Gombaud's name in Latin), especially since Gombaud was called "Gundaberto" in the Chronicle of Saint-Maixent Favreau, 18. Fulk (January 938 – February 951)Favreau, 18. Eblo (April 2, 951 – January 18, 964)Favreau, 19. Ramnulf (February or April 963 – January 973) Hugh of Jarnac (973–990)Favreau, 19–20. Grimoard of Mussidan (September 22, 991 – January 28, 1018)Favreau, 21–22.
1000 to 1300
Roho of Montaigu (c. 1020 – March 12 between 1032 and 1036)Roho may have become bishop as early as 1018, but is only attested to in 1020. Favreau, 22–23. Gerald Malart (1037 or before – June 15, 1043)Favreau, 24. William Taillefer (1043 – September 20, 1075 or 1076)Favreau, 24–26. Adémar Taillefer (May 15, 1075 – September 4, 1101)Favreau, 26–28. Gerard (1101 or 1102 – March 1, 1136)Favreau, 28–33. Ursula Vones-Liebenstein, "From Aquitaine to Provence: The Struggle for Influence during the Schism of 1130," in: Lambert (May 24, 1136 – June 13, 1149)Favreau, 33–35. Hugh Tison of La Rochefoucauld (June 11, 1149 – August 12, 1159)Favreau, 35–37. Peter Titmond (1159–1182)Elected in 1159, consecrated in 1160. Favreau, 37–39. John of Saint-Val (1181–March 7, 1204)Elected in 1181, consecrated in 1182. Favreau, 39–40. William Testaud (1206–1227)Piveteau, 122. John Guillot (1228–c. 1238)Piveteau, 122–23. Radulfus (c. 1240–1247)Piveteau, 125–28. Peter (1247–1252)Piveteau, 123–24. Robert of Montbron (1252–1268)Elected in 1252, consecrated in 1253. Piveteau, 128. Robert of Montbron was still alive on 17 July 1268: Gallia christiana II, p. 1009. sede vacante (1268–1272)Piveteau, 124–25. Pope Clement IV died on 29 November 1268, and there was no new pope until January 1272. Peter Raymond (1272–1273) William of Blaye (October 12, 1273 – 1307)Elected on October 12, 1273 and consecrated January 15 of the following year. Piveteau, 130–33.
1300 to 1500
Fulques de la Rochefoucauld (1308–1313)Piveteau, 133–34. Olivier (1313–1315)Piveteau, 134. John III (1315–1317)Piveteau, 135. Galhardus of Fougères (1318–1328)Piveteau, 136. Ayquelin of Blaye (1328–1363)Piveteau, 135–39. Helias of Pons (1363–1381)Piveteau, 137. Joannes Bertetus, O.P. (20 June 1380 – 1384) (Avignon Obedience)Jean was appointed by Clement VII. He had been Bishop of Cesena in central Italy from 1376, but preferred the Obedience of Clement VII to that of Urban VI. Eubel, I, pp. 154 and 240. Galhardus (25 October 1384 – 1391) (Avignon Obedience)Galhardus had been Dean of Angoulême. He was appointed bishop by Clement VII. Eubel, I, p. 240. Guillelmus, O.S.B. (5 April 1391 – 1412) (Avignon Obedience)Guillaume had been abbot of the monastery of Burgidolensis (or Dolensis) in the diocese of Bourges. He was appointed bishop by Clement VII. Eubel, I, p. 240. Joannes Floridus (Fleury), O.Cist. (31 August 1412 – 13 July 1431)Joannes was appointed by Pope John XXIII. He had been abbot of the monastery of Barbello. He was transferred to Luçon on 13 July 1431 by Pope Eugene IV. Eubel, I, p. 240; II, p. 151 and 181. Robertus de Montebruno (8 August 1431 – 24 July 1465)It is said that he was bishop for more than thirty years. Gallia christiana II, p. 1016. Gams, p. 491. Eubel, II, p. 151. Geoffroy de Pompadour (24 July 1465 – 6 July 1470)Godefridus had been Provost of the Church of Lyon before being named Bishop of Angoulême. He was transferred to Périgueux on 6 July 1470. Eubel, II, pp. 151 and 215. Radulfus du Faou (6 July 1470 – 22 November 1479)Radulfus had been Bishop of Périgueux. He was transferred to Evreux on 22 November 1479. Eubel, II, pp. 148 and 151. Robert de Luxembourg (15 November 1479 – 1493)Eubel, II, p. 151. Octavien de St. Gelais (18 October 1493 appointed – 1502 died)Eubel, II, p. 151. Henri Joseph Molinier, Essai biographique et littéraire sur Octovien de Saint-Gelays, éveque d'Angoulême, (1468-1502) (Rodez 1910).
1500 to 1800
Hugues de Bauza (11 January 1503 – 1505) Antoine d’Estaing (September 16, 1506 appointed – February 28, 1523 died)In 1513 he was given the Deanship of the Cathedral of Lyon. Eubel, III, p. 192, with note 3. Antoine de La Barre (January 14, 1524 appointed – 16 March 1528)De La Barre had been Canon of the Cathedral of Angoulême. He was transferred to the diocese of Tours on 16 March 1528. Eubel, III, p. 192, with note 4; p. 321. Jacques Babou (16 March 1528 – 26 November 1532)Jacques Babou had been Dean of the Chapter of S. Martin of Tours. Eubel, III, p. 193. Philibert Babou de La Bourdaisière (13 January 1533 – 4 June 1567 resigned)Philibert Babou, the brother of Bishop Jacques Babou, became a cardinal on 26 February 1561. At the time he was Ambassador of King Charles IX of France to the Holy See. Eubel, III, pp. 38 and 193. Charles de Bony (4 June 1567 appointed— 14 December 1603 died)Eubel, III, p. 193 with note 8. Antoine de la Rochefoucauld (13 August 1607 – 1635)Gams, p. 491. Gauchat, IV, p. 183. Jacques Le Noël du Perron (28 January 1636 – 24 August 1646)Du Perron resigned Angoulême on 24 August 1646. He was appointed Bishop of Evreux on 24 August 1646 (1648?). Gauchat, IV, pp. 180 and 183, with note 3. François de Péricard (18 February 1647 – September 29, 1689 died)François was the son of Charles, Baron of Botereaux, and nephew of François, Bishop of Evreux. He was nominated by King Louis XIV in August 1646, and approved (preconized) by Pope Innocent X on 18 February 1647. He was consecrated in Paris by the Archbishop of Corinth, Jean François de Gondi. He made his formal entry into Angoulême on 26 November 1649. Gallia christiana II, p. 1022. Gauchat, IV, p. 183. Cyprien-Gabriel Bénard de Résay (March 10, 1692 confirmed – January 5, 1737 died)Ritzler, V, p. 195 with note 3. François du Verdier (December 16, 1737 appointed – September 21, 1753 died)Ritzler, VI, p. 209 with note 2.