Jean du Bellay
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Cardinal Jean du Bellay |
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|---|---|
| Cardinal-Bishop | |
 |
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| Church |
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere San Pietro in Vincoli San Crisogono |
| Diocese | Paris (1532-1560) |
| See | Albano (1550-1553) Tusculum (1553) Porto (1553-1555) Ostia (1555-1560) |
| Orders | |
| Created Cardinal | 21 May 1535 by Pope Paul III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1492 Souday, Anjou FR |
| Died | February 16, 1560 (aged 67–68) Rome IT |
| Buried | Sma. Trinità dei Monti |
| Nationality | French |
| Residence | Paris |
| Parents | Louis du Bellay Marguerite de la Tour-Landry |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Education | Licenciate in Canon and Civil Law |
| Alma mater | Sorbonne (?) |
Jean du Bellay (1492 – 16 February 1560) was a French diplomat and cardinal, a younger brother of Guillaume du Bellay, and cousin and patron of the poet Joachim du Bellay. He was bishop of Bayonne by 1526, member of the Conseil privé (privy council) of King Francis I from 1530, and bishop of Paris from 1532. He became Bishop of Ostia and Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1555.
Du Bellay was born at Souday, second of the six sons of Louis, son of Jean du Bellay, Seigneur de Langey, and Marguerite, daughter of Raoullet, Baron of Le Tour-Landry. Four of their sons survived infancy, including Guillaume, Martin, and René. They had two daughters, Renée, who married Ambroise Baron des Cousteaux, and Louise, who married Jacques d'Aunay, Sieur de Villeneuvr-la-Guyart. The fief of Bellay was located near Saumur in Anjou.
He is said to have had his education in Paris. It is also speculated, however, that he studied at the University of Angers. He had a licenciate in utroque iure (Civil Law and Canon Law). He was a priest of the diocese of Le Mans. He was appointed Bishop of Bayonne by King Francis I, whose appointment was approved by Pope Clement VII on 12 February 1524. He held the position until his transfer to the See of Paris in 1532. On 2 March 1533, Pope Clement granted Bishop du Bellay the privilege of holding multiple benefices both in the diocese of Paris and in other dioceses as well. King Francis confirmed this indult on 1 October 1534. Jean du Bellay was succeeded as Bishop of Paris by his nephew Eustache, on 16 March 1551, after Cardinal Jean was dismissed by King Henry II.
He was well-fitted for a diplomatic career, and carried out several missions in England (1527–1534). He was Ambassador Ordinary from November 1527 to February 1529, when his elder brother Guillaume replaced him. When his brother departed, he was again Ambassador, from 15 May 1529 to January 1530. He returned on a mission in August–September 1530, and again, as Ambassador Extraordinary, in October 1531. After returning to Court, he was immediately dispatched again to England on 6 November 1531. He was in England again as Ambassador Extraordinary in August and September 1532. A meeting between the English and French monarchs took place at Boulogne on 20 October 1532, at which Bishop du Bellay was present, and immediately thereafter Cardinals Tournon and de Gramont were sent to Rome to negotiate with Pope Paul III. Du Bellay returned to England from November 1533 to January 1534. In this last embassy, it was his duty to explain the agreements made between Francis I and Pope Paul III during their negotiations in Marseille in October and November 1533.
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