The former French Catholic diocese of Couserans existed perhaps from the fifth century to the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century. It covered the former province of Couserans, in south-west France. Its episcopal seat was in Saint-Lizier, a small town to the west of Foix.In 1752 it was credited with a population of around 2,000. Ritzler, VI, p. 179, note 1. It was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Auch.
History
Couserans was the fifth of the Novempopulaniae civitates.Gallia christiana I, pp. 1123–1124. The people are first mentioned in the elder Pliny's Historia naturalis Book IV. 19 as the Consorani. In the 580's peace and a division of territories was arranged between the Merovingian kings Guntram (561–592) and Childebert II (575–595), in which the territory of Couserans was assigned to Childebert.Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum Book IX, chapter 20. According to Gregory of Tours,Gregory of Tours, Liber de gloria confessorum, 84. the first bishop was Valerius, before the sixth century. Bishop Glycerius was present at the Council of Agde in 506. According to Louis Duchesne, he should be identified with Lycerius whom the Gallia Christiana places later in the list of bishops. Lycerius was patron saint of St-Lizier, the town in which the bishops of Couserans had their official residence.
The historian Pierre de Marca (1643–52), a native of Béarn and President of the Parliament of Navarre, was subsequently Bishop of Toulouse and Archbishop of Paris. Catholic Encyclopedia: Pamiers
Up until the administration of Bishop Bernard de Marmiesse (1654–1680), the town of Saint-Lezier had two co-cathedrals, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède in the upper town next to the Episcopal Palace, and the Cathedral of St.-Lizier farther down to the south. Each co-cathedral was served by its own Chapter, each Chapter having a Precentor, a Sacristan, an Operarius, six Canons, ten Prebendarii and a priest called the Vicar Perpetuus. Over both Chapters stood the Archdeacon and the Aumonier. Bishop de Marmiesse united the two chapters and based them in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède; it was composed of the Archdeacon, two Precentors, two Sacristans, two Operarii, the Aumonier, twelve Canons, and two Vicarii perpetui; there were twenty-four prebends.Gallia christiana I, pp. 1123–1124. In 1752 there was one dignity and twelve Canons.Ritzler, VI, p. 179 note 1.
The diocese of Couserans was abolished in 1801. In 1822, its territory became part of the restored Diocese of Pamiers, which was renamed "Diocese of Pamiers, Couserans, and Mirepoix" in 1910.
Bishops
to 1200
c. 451: ValeriusValerius is known only through the report by Gregory of Tours of the discovery of his tomb: Gallia christiana I, pp. 1123–1125. He is not mentioned in the martyrologies, and there is no hagiography. Duchesne hints that there may have been a confusion due to a Roman tombstone of someone belonging to the Gens Valeria. Duchesne, p. 99 no. 1. 506-c. 548: Glycerius 549–551: TheodorusTheodorus was represented at the Council of Orléans in 549 by the Archdeacon Eleutherius, and was present at the Council of Eauze in 551. He was the discoverer of the tomb of Saint Valerius. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 3. c. 614: Johannes IBishop Johannes was present at the Council of Paris in 614. Maassen, p. 192. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 4. Saint Quintianus † ca. 663: Saint Licerius c. 663 or 664: SesemundusBishop Sesemundus was present at the Council of Bordeaux in the mid-670s. Maassen, p. 260. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 5. Maurolenus c. 788-c. 791: Francolinus c. 879: WainardusWainard was the recipient of a letter of Pope John VIII, dated 13 June 879, on illicit marriages and clerical obedience to authority. J. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Tomus I editio altera (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 410, no. 3263. Duchesne, p. 99 no. 7. c. 887: Rogerius or Roger I.Rogerius was present in 887 at the translation of relics. Gallia christiana I, p. 1127. 973–978: Bernardus or Bernard I. c. 1019: Atto c. 1025: Berengarius or Béranger I. c. 1035: Bernard II. Raymond 1068–1078: Pelet 1078–1085: Vacant 1085–1095: William I. or Guilielmus 1117–1120: Jordanes I. 1120–1155: Petrus or Pierre I. 1165–1177: Rogerius or Roger II. c. 1177: Augustinus Stephanus (?) c. 1180: Auger I. (or Augerius I.) 1190–1191: Arnoldus or Arnaldus I. 1195–1198: Laurentius
1200 to 1400
1208–1211: Navarrus d'Acqs 1213: Sance or Sanchius c. 1226: Raymond I. (or Raymundus I.) c. 1229: Cerebrun 1246–4 October 1270: Nikolaus c. 1273: Petrus or Pierre II. ?-16. October 1275: Raymond II. de Sobole or de Saboulies 1277-c. 1279: Raymond III. de Rostoil 1279–1 June 1303: Auger II. (or Augustin) de Montfaucon 1303 – 31 May 1309: Bernard III. de Montaigu 4 July 1309 – 31 May 1329: Arnaldus II. FredetiEubel, I, p. 203. 27 June 1329 – 17 July 1336: Raymond IV. de MontaiguRaymond de Montaigu was transferred to Clermont. He died on 1 April 1340. Eubel, I, pp. 192, 203. 17 July 1336 – c. 1337: Antonius d'Aspel c. 1337–1342: Pierre III. de Palude Durandus 1354–1 December 1358: Canardus c. 1358–1360 or 1361: Jean II. de Rochechouart c. 1361–17 October 1362: Béranger II. 10 December 1362 – 1368: Ponce de Villemur 19 August 1371 – 18 May 1384: Amelius de LautrecAemilius de Lautrec was a Doctor of Canon Law, and had been Chancellor of the Church of Toulouse. He was transferred to the diocese of Comminges on 18 May 1384. He was created a cardinal by Pope Clement VII on 12 July 1385. Eubel, I, p. 28 no. 23; p. 207; and p. 203. [1381–1384: Arnaldus III.]Arnaldus' existence depends on the testimony of the brothers Saint-Marthe: Gallia christiana I, p. 1136. His name is omitted by Eubel, I, p. 203, from the list of bishops of Couserans. Indeed there is no space for him in the attested chronology, unless he is considered an appointee of Urban VI (Roman Obedience), whose power did not extend to France. 18 May 1384 – 1389: Pierre IV Aymery (Avignon Obedience)Bishop Pierre was transferred to the diocese of Castres in 1384, but the transfer never took place. He was transferred by Clement VII to Bourges on 17 October 1390. Eubel, I, pp. 139; 203, with n. 5. 27 May 1390 – 17 October 1390: Robert du BoscBishop Robert had been Bishop of Alet (1386–1390), and was transferred to the diocese of Mende on 17 October 1390. Eubel, I, pp. 203, 237, 342. 17 October 1390 – 18 September 1405: Gérald or Gérard I de Brolio (de Breuil)Geraldus was a Doctor of Canon Law and had been Bishop of Apt (1383–1390). He was transferred to the diocese of Uzès on 18 September 1405. Eubel, I, p. 96, 203 with note 6, 511. On his alleged successors Raymond and Guillaume Reol, who are passed over by Eubel (with comment in note 6), see: Gallia christiana I, p. 1137, where doubts are also raised.
1400 to 1800
1405 – 19 Juli 1412: Sicard (or Aicard) de BurguirolesSicard, a doctor in Canon Law and Canon of Narbonne, was a Cleric of the Apostolic Camera. He was granted his bulls on 20 November 1405 by Pope Benedict XIII. He sent legates to participate in the Council of Pisa, which opened in May 1409. He died on 19 July 1412. Gallia christiana I, p. 1137. Eubel, I, pp. 203–204. 23 September 1412 – (17. January): Guillaume III. Beau-MaîtreGuillaume had been Archdeacon of Vallisjuria in the diocese of Coutances. He was appointed by John XXIII. Gallia christiana I, p. 1137. Eubel, I, p. 204. 1417–1423?: Guillaume IV. de Nalajo 22 December 1423 – 18 May 1425: ArnaldusBishop Arnaud was transferred to the diocese of Lescar on 18 May 1425, at the same time as Jean III was transferred from the diocese of Lecscar to Couserans. Eubel, I, pp. 204, 295. 1425–1428: Jean IIIC. Douais, "Documents pontificaux sur l'eveche de Couserans, 1425–1619," 1428–1432: Gérard II. FaiditFaidit was a Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, and had been a Canon of the Cathedral of Toulouse and Cantor of the Cathedral of Lavaur. He was a papal Referendary, when Pope Martin V rejected the choice of the Chapter of Montaubon, and appointed Gérard Bishop of Montaubon on 5 June 1424. His own successor at Montaubon was approved on 5 June 1424. Eubel, I, p. 347. before 23 March 1439 – 1440: AndréAndre participated in the 25th session of the Council of Florence on 23 March 1439. Gallia christiana I, p. 1138. Eubel, II, p. 134. 18 April 1440 – 1443: Jordanes II. d'AureC. Douais, p. 353. Eubel, II, p. 134. 1443-c. 1444: Raymond VI. de Tullio 1444–1460: Tristan 5 November 1460 – 10 March 1475: Guiscard d'AubussonGuiscard d'Aubusson's brother was Grand Master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. Guiscard had been promised a cardinalate, but it was never granted. Guiscard was transferred to the diocese of Cahors on 10 March 1475. Eubel, II, pp. 123, 134. 1480–1515: Jean IV. d'Aule 25 June 1515 – 24 April 1523: Charles de GrammontCharles de Grammont was transferred to the diocese of Aire on 24 April 1523. Eubel, III, pp. 95 and 176, with notes 5 and 6. 28 April 1523 – 19 September 1524: Gabriel I. de GrammontGabriel de Grammont was transferred to the diocese of Tarbes on 19 September 1524. Eubel, III, pp. 176 and 309. 1524–1548: Ménald de MartoryMartory was a Doctor of Canon Law. He had been Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Orleans when nominated Bishop of Tarbes (1514–1524) by King Francis I. He was transferred to Couserans on 19 September 1524. He died in 1548. Eubel, III, p. 176, p. 309 with n. 4. 1548–1574: Hector d'Ossun 1581–1584: François Bonard 1593–1612: Jérôme de Langue (de Lingua) 1614–14. November 1621: Octave de BellegardeBellegarde was granted his bulls as Archbishop of Sens on 18 December 1623. Gauchat, IV, p. 313. 7 June 1623 – October 1642: Bruno Ruade, O.Cart.Ruade's baptismal name was Philibert; Bruno was his name in religion. On his appointment, see: Ruade died in February 1645. Gauchat, IV, p. 160. 1642-1654: Pierre de MarcaDe Marca had been one of the judges of the Comte de Cinq-Mars. He later was named archbishop of Toulouse (1654–1662) on 23 March 1654, and Archbishop of Paris (1662). Bergin, p. 85. Gauchat, IV, pp. 274 and 340. 28 May 1654 – 22 January 1680: Bernard IV. de MarmiesseA native of Toulouse, Marmiesse was a Doctor of Theology (Sorbonne). He was preconized by Pope Innocent X on 19 October 1654. Gauchat, IV, p. 161, with note 6. 1680 – 24 December 1707: Gabriel II. de Saint-EstèveSaint-Estève was a bachelor in theology (Paris). He was nominated bishop by King Louis XIV on 24 February 1680, and preconized (approved) by Pope Innocent XI on 15 July 1680. He died on 24 December 1707. Jean, p. 78. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 3. 24 June 1708 – October 1725: Isaac-Jacob de VerthamontVerthamont was born in the Chateau de Chalucet (Limoges), and was a doctor of theology. He had been Vicar-General of Pamiers. On 17 January 1708 he was nominated bishop of Couserans by King Louis XIV, and preconized (approved) by Pope Clement XI on 26 March 1708. Jean, p. 78. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 4. 12 January 1727 – 1752: Jean-François de Machéco de PrémeauxPrémeaux was a native of Dijon. His elder brother was Bishop of Périgueux (1732–1771). Jean-François was Doctor of Theology (Besancon), and was Vicar General of Narbonne. He was nominated by King Louis XV on 29 March 1726, and preconized (approved) by Pope Benedict XIII on 9 December 1726; he was consecrated on 12 January 1727. Jean, pp. 78–79. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 5. Ritzler, VI, p. 334 with note 2. 22 October 1752 – 28 September 1779: Joseph de Saint-André-Marnays de VercelJean, p. 79. Ritzler, VI, p. 179 with note 2.