Pierre Charlot, (b.1205/1209 - d. 1249), was the treasurer of St. Martin of Tours, St. Frambaud of Senlis, and St. Fursy of Peronne. He was the illegitimate son of

Philip II of France Philip II (21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223), also known as Philip Augustus (), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks (Latin: ''rex Francorum''), but from 1190 onward, Philip became the firs ...

. Elected bishop of Noyon in 1240, Pierre accompanied Louis IX of France on the

Seventh Crusade The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was the first of the two Crusades led by Louis IX of France. Also known as the Crusade of Louis IX to the Holy Land, it aimed to reclaim the Holy Land by attacking Egypt, the main seat of Muslim power in the Nea ...

. He died near Cyprus in 1249 and was buried in the cathedral of Noyon.

Life

Pierre was born between 1205 and 1209, the illegitimate son of

and an unknown mother. Despite his illegitimate birth, Pierre's father hired

William the Breton William the Breton (c. 1165c. 1225), French chronicler and poet, was a contemporary and dependent of French king Philip Augustus for whom he served in diplomatic missions and for whom he wrote a Latin prose chronicle and a Latin epic poem. Willia ...

as his tutor, and following his father's death, William dedicated the prologue in his "Philippidos" to him. Pierre was given a dispensation, owing to his illegitimate birth, from

Pope Honorius III Pope Honorius III (c. 1150 – 18 March 1227), born Cencio Savelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 18 July 1216 to his death. A canon at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, he came to hold a number of importa ...

which allowed him to hold ecclesiastical benefices.

Appointments

By 1232, Pierre was appointed treasurer of the church of St. Martin in Tours. In 1234 a number of canons challenged the election on the grounds that it had been procured by coercion and threats. In 1235 he held the offices of treasurer of Saint-Frambaud of Senlis and of Saint-Fursy of Péronne. In 1240, Pierre and John, the dean of St. Martin of Tours, both received the same number of votes in the election for bishop of Noyon. The decision was sent to Rome and through the appeals of

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis VI ...

, Pierre was awarded the bishopric. The decision, drew letters of complaint from

Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX (; born Ugolino di Conti; 1145 – 22 August 1241) was head of the Catholic Church and the ruler of the Papal States from 19 March 1227 until his death in 1241. He is known for issuing the '' Decretales'' and instituting the Pa ...

to the archbishop of Reims, chapter of Namur, and the bishop of Palestrina. Gregory argued that Pierre was the child of an adulterous relationship and thus ineligible to hold the office of bishop without a special dispensation, and he should be removed from office and placed on a three-year suspension from his benefices. Despite papal animosity, Pierre kept his episcopate.

Crusade

Pierre accompanied his nephew, King Louis IX, on the

to the

Holy Land The term "Holy Land" is used to collectively denote areas of the Southern Levant that hold great significance in the Abrahamic religions, primarily because of their association with people and events featured in the Bible. It is traditionall ...

, and died near Cyprus in 1249 and was buried in the cathedral of Noyon.

Notes

References

Sources

* * * * * *{{cite book , title=Saint Louis, Crusader King of France , first=Jean , last=Richard , publisher=Cambridge University Press , year=1992 1205 births 1249 deaths Children of Philip II of France Charlot, Pierre Sons of kings