Érard of Marck (born the May 31st 1472 with Sedan - died the March 18th 1538 with Liege) was the junior by the house of Marck, powerful family of Germanic origin, which made an effort, since the 11th century to increase its power towards the West, first of all the the Ruhr, then the Pays of Liege, finally the France.

Biography

Érard of Marck was Prince-bishop of Liege of 1505 with 1538.

It was also bishop of Chartres and archbishop of Valence. It was named cardinal by Leon X, with the support of Charles Quint. But he was also canon of Trier and Tours. Canon of Saint-Lambert, in 1500.

Érard was the third wire of Robert I of Marck, lord of Sedan, and Jeanne de Saulcy, known as of Marlay , Dame of Florenge. He was the nephew of Guillaume of Marck, celebrates it “wild boar of the Ardennes”, and Evrard d' Arenberg, the enemies of Louis de Bourbon and Jean de Hornes. He studied with the Université of Cologne (Civil law and Canon law) before improving his formation at the court of the King de France Louis XII, which obtained to him the title of prince-bishop of Liege that also the Habsbourg coveted.

Elected official unanimously the December 30th 1505, with the support of the Pope Jules II (1503 - 1513) and of the King de France Louis XII, against Jacques de Croy, bishop of Cambric, supported by Philippe the Beautiful, it was crowned, the May 2nd 1506.

Crowd assisted with the “merry entry” of the Prince-bishop in her principality the May 30th 1506.

In the field of the foreign policy, after having initially sought the good graces of king de France, it was combined with the emperor of Germany. It succeeds in guaranteeing peace in the Principality during all its reign.

In 1508, it recruited in the capacity as private secretary the young person Jerome Aléandre, who had later, as nuncio papal, to illustrate itself in the persecution of the Protestant first.

The April 10th 1509, Érard of Marck accepted the regalities of the emperor Maximilien I {{er}}, which confirmed the privileges of the Principauté granted by its predecessors.

The April 11th 1511, it takes part, as a bishop of Chartres to a meeting of the Église of France, convened with Lyon by Louis XII.

It took part in the Diète of Worms which, in 1521, put Luther - that it compared with the devil in person - at the round of applause of the Empire. Its role in the first manifestations of the catholic Réforme is obvious. Érard wishes to put order in the businesses of its diocese, but its initiatives are often ruined by its most powerful partner, the chapter cathédral (sixty Chanoine S, equipped with the frightening privilege of exemption, forming a hearth of resistance opposed to any idea of change), and by the secondary clergy (free him also). The bishop engages very early in repression of the Hérésie. He was very hard with the Hérétique S (1528 - first execution), and showed relentless with Rivageois famished come to complain in front of his palate (July 2nd 1531): he made torture and decapitate the leaders and asked excuses knees with the other participants.

He was avid of being able, and did not support that one questions his authority.

One should not see the poverty of Liege there, but it is more necessary to analyze the geopolitical and economic situation in which the Principality is. The market is unstable: we are located in the middle of Europe torn between several parties. The price of the grain increases: the Prince-bishop prohibits any export in order to avoid the shortage: the gifts made in Rivageois are far from being sufficient. Then, the Peste makes devastations in the campaigns (1513). The Meuse, also celebrates for its thousand-year-old pollution, was probably a factor full of consequences for Rivageois.

Its reign is regarded as most sumptuous of the history of the Country of Liege. One owes him in particular the rebuilding of the palate of the Prince-Bishops, ruined by the wars of the previous century (in particular by the setting with bag of Liege by Charles Bold the which destroyed all, except the religious buildings) and the restoration of many monuments, of which the Collégiale Saint Martin's day (by Paul de Ryckel). He entrusted the task to rectify architecture inhabitant of Li2ege with his favorite architect, Arnold van Mulchen and offered to Lambert Lombard, young painter inhabitant of Li2ege fascinated by the Renaissance, a voyage in Italy to take as a starting point the Italian artists and to bring back his knowledge to the Principality. He was to also bring back a collection of works of art to the Principality to decorate the Palate, but with died of Erard, all works were resold in Medicis.

In 1507, Louis XII grants to him on recommendation of his/her friend, the cardinal Georges d' Amboise - true chief of the Kingdom - the évêché of Chartres. The office plurality will not stop. In 1518, Érard obtains the ordering of the Abbaye of Saint-Michel, close to Antwerp. In 1520, it is indicated with the head of the very rich archbishop's palace of Valence in Spain.

The August 9th 1520, Érard, with the support of the new emperor Charles Quint whom it supported against François I {{er}} during the countryside for the imperial election, is promoted cardinal but “its nomination will remain secret some time by regard for France” which regards Érard as its “enemy mortal”. The August 9th 1521, the Prince-Bishop is openly introduced cardinal of the title of Saint-Chrysogone and the public ceremony takes place the September 9th 1521.

See too

• History of the Principality of Liege

• List of the prince-bishops of Liege
• Predecessor: Jean de Hornes
• Successor: Crow of Berghes