Raoul Roussel (1389–1452) was a French churchman, who played a part in the

trial of Joan of Arc The trial of Joan of Arc, a French military leader under Charles VII of France, Charles VII during the Hundred Years' War, began on 9 January 1431 and ended with her execution on 30 May. The trial is one of the most famous in history, becoming ...

in 1431, and was

archbishop of Rouen The Archdiocese of Rouen (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rothomagensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rouen'') is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the Archbishop of Rouen's ecclesi ...

from 1443 to 1452. He was born at Saultchevreuil in the

diocese of Coutances In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

, and became a doctor of

canon law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

in 1416. At the time of the trial he was Treasurer to

Rouen Cathedral Rouen Cathedral () is a Catholic church architecture, church in Rouen, Normandy, France. It is the Episcopal see, see of the Archbishop of Rouen, Primate of Normandy. It is famous for its three towers, each in a different style. The cathedral, b ...

. He was an advisor both to the English king, who employed him on numerous missions, and later to the

Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset Edmund is a masculine given name in the English language. The name is derived from the Old English elements ''ēad'', meaning "prosperity" or "riches", and ''mund'', meaning "protector". Persons named Edmund include: People Kings and nobles * E ...

. When

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

, in the hands of the English and Somerset, surrendered to

Charles VII of France Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461), called the Victorious () or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. His reign saw the end of the Hundred Years' War and a ''de facto'' end of the English claims to ...

in 1449, Roussel had influence in the negotiations, and received the French king into the city.R. A. Griffiths, ''The Reign of King Henry VI'' (1981), p. 517.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roussel, Raoul 1389 births 1452 deaths Canon law jurists Archbishops of Rouen