Jean Ébrard, Seigneur de Saint-Sulpice
16th Century French noble and diplomat / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jean Ébrard, seigneur de Saint-Sulpice (26 August 1519–5 November 1581) was a French noble, governor, soldier and diplomat during the latter Italian Wars and the French Wars of Religion. Born into the first family of the province of Quercy Saint-Sulpice began his military service during the reign of François I, seeing service at the siege of Boulogne in 1544. Under his successor Henri II Saint-Sulpice operated as a client of the constable Montmorency and fought at the defence of Metz in 1552 and capture of Calais in 1558. During Henri's reign he began his diplomatic role and was tasked with presenting Henri's position to the delegates negotiating the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis after a shift in the crown's position. He received a further diplomatic role securing the withdrawal of French forces from Siena as a term of the peace.
Jean Ébrard seigneur de Saint-Sulpice | |
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9th French Ambassador to Spain | |
In office May 1562 – October 1565 | |
Preceded by | Bishop of Limoges |
Succeeded by | Baron de Fourquevaux |
Personal details | |
Born | 26 August 1519 |
Died | 5 November 1581 |
Spouses | Claude de Gontaut |
Relations | Christophe Ébrard, abbot of Marcilhac |
Children | Henri Armand Antoine Bertrand Catherine |
Parents |
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During the reign of Charles IX he moved to be a patron of the queen mother Catherine. He led two further diplomatic missions, first to España and then Portugal in 1560 and 1561 respectively. In mid 1562 he replaced the bishop of Limoges as the French ambassador to España. In this role he unsuccessfully campaigned to get España to declare war on England after the latters entry into the first French War of Religion in September 1562. When España objected to the peace that the French crown negotiated with the rebels Saint-Sulpice and Catherine took the line that España should not trouble itself with French internal affairs. In the crisis over the excommunication of the queen of Navarre Saint-Sulpice relayed information of a Spanish plot against her to the French court thus aiding in its neutralisation. He counselled taking a course of caution during further disputes with España over Papal precedence and a rebellion in Corse. Throughout this period Catherine had hoped for a personal meeting with Felipe and Saint-Sulpice helped arrange this meeting which was to transpire at Bayonne in June 1565. Felipe would not participate however but rather his wife Élisabeth. His efforts to convince Felipe of the wisdom of a new royal marriage between the kingdoms was a failure. Relieved of his charge in 1565 he returned to the French court where he had been established as a conseiller d'État (councillor of state). During the second war of religion he fought at the battle of Saint-Denis. Absent from his territories in the third war of religion, his relatives endeavoured to secure the preservation of the families lands in Quercy. When the surintendant de la maison (superintendent of the household) of the king's brother Alençon died in 1569, Saint-Sulpice replaced him, and used the position to insert many of his children into Alençon's household. In this capacity he would be with Alençon during the siege of La Rochelle at which one of his sons was killed. During the fourth war of religion Saint-Sulpice engaged in internal diplomatic efforts and was tasked with the arrest of the governor of Languedoc the baron de Damville.
After the death of Charles and the ascent of his brother Anjou as Henri III, Saint-Sulpice found his position in Alençon's household compromised by his rebellion. In August 1576 he departed from the role and was soon followed by his relatives. At the Estates General called as a term of the peace his eldest son Henri Ébrard was killed by one of Alençon's men. Saint-Sulpice was one of the diplomats involved in the negotiations that brought the sixth war of religion to a close in September 1577. The king subsequently tasked him with a role in the peace's enforcement. Saint-Sulpice joined with Catherine for a new internal peace effort in August 1578, crossing much of southern France in a mission that concluded with the Treaty of Nérac which established him as a commissioner for the peace in Guyenne. As a reward he was made a chevalier (knight) of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit (Order of the Saint-Esprit) the most senior order of French chivalry. He died on 5 November 1581 and was succeeded to his titles by his son Bertrand.