See also: Duplessis

Philippe Duplessis-Mornay , actually Philippe de Mornay, Seigneur of Plessis-Marly , also called Philippe Mornay Of Plessis (born the November 5th 1549 with Buhy, in the Val-d'Oise - deceased the November 11th 1623 with Forest-on-Separates It, close to Cerizay, in the Two-Sevres) was a theologist reformed, a writer and a French, friendly statesman of Henri IV, which was one of the most eminent men of the party protesting at the end of the XVI {{E}} century.

A street of Paris, in the fourth district, and a college of Saumur bear the name of Philippe Duplessis-Mornay.

Duplessis-Mornay is well-known for us in its many writings and the innumerable documents which it left for the greatest happiness of the historians. Those reveal initially the extent of its knowledge and its culture. He speaks and he writes traditional Latin, as if it were about his native tongue; he controls the Greek and Hebrew. He handles with ease German and he is made include/understand in Dutch, English and Italian. He seems to know the Bible by heart; its writings reveal a vast knowledge historical and geographical, turned initially towards Antiquity, but he as extremely well knows Europe of his time, as he visited.

Admiror of the chancellor Michel of Hospital and admired by Turenne, Duplessis-Mornay opposes very forced as regards religion. In its national policy and taking into account the climate of the time, it deserves to be classified in the small group of the partisans of the tolerance. But, in spite of the eminent place that it occupies in the camp protesting, it does not count only friends there. Sully, it reproaches its careerism; the two old chiefs - and rivals - hate themselves. Agrippa of Aubigné hardly sometimes appreciates it and scratches it in the passing.

Austere manners, Duplessis-Mornay get dressed with dark colors and certain portraits represent it bearing around the neck a strawberry which had for a long time passed from mode.

Its currency is a faithful reflection of its character: “ arte and marte ” - (by the talent and the combat).

Biography

Theologist and polemist of talent, gentleman Huguenot, scholar and deeply believing, Philippe de Mornay, lord of Plessis-Marly, known as Duplessis-Mornay, devote all his life to the Protestant cause. Besides it seems more intended for the religious combat that for the political struggles and military. In the historical works, Mornay is alternatively or simultaneously presented like a theologist, a diplomat, a politician or a polemist. It thus constantly seems to change function without one seizing really the bond which can exist between the various fields of its engagement.

To include/understand Duplessis-Mornay, is needed from the start become aware of the sincerity of its religious engagement and depth of its faith. All its life is dedicated to the service of the reformed faith, of the “true religion” as it has habit to indicate it. He thus seeks the surest way and most direct to ensure the triumph of it.

After its studies, Duplessis-Mornay accomplishes voyages in Italy and Germany, of 1565 with 1572. He escapes from accuracy from the Massacre of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and takes refuge in England. On its return in France, it took an active share with the attempts which the Protestants made to raise their cause by associating it with that François d' Alençon, and bound to Henri de Navarre, chief of the Huguenot S, of which it will be the main thing adviser before that Ci does not become Henri IV, king de France.

Duplessis-Mornay wrote various religious works in which it exposes and defends the theses calvinists, most famous being undoubtedly its “ Traité eucharistie ” (1598). In a preceding work, “ Of the truth of the Christian religion ”, published in 1583, it makes an apology for the Christianisme, stripped of any spirit of controversy with the Catholicisme.

The captain, the politician and the adviser of king de Navarre

Very marked by the Massacre of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, he knows initially a period of doubt about control to be adopted with respect to a prince - the king of France Charles IX - which made massacre its subjects Huguenot S. Between 1574 and 1576, the feeling of deep insecurity which he feels probably results it in expressing its distrust with regard to the royal capacity by writing the “ Vindiciae countered Tyrannos ”. He includes/understands whereas, to ensure survival, then the triumph, of the “true religion”, the theological combat must double of a political combat. In its spirit, success on the political field, which would allow the re-establishment of civil peace, is indeed an essential precondition to the true rise of a profitable theological debate.

Conscious that the reformed cause could be essential only under the control of a prince able to defend the interests of the Protestant religion , it decides to engage near the king de Navarre, the future Henri IV, with which it will carry out the political combat and soldier, becoming as of 1576 its adviser and his ambassador. Potential heir to the throne, this prince ideally seems placed to become the champion of the reformed cause. Perhaps starting from 1583, the role of Mornay in the assertion of Henri de Navarre as a credible successor with Henri III appears considerable and ignored.

In 1583 precisely, Mornay, very with horse in the field of morals, set up as a mentor of the king of Navarre - which is only four years its junior - and a payment of life proposes to him which would transform it into a model of Christian prince: “ the king of Navarre could be equipped at eight hours at the latest and to order at once with the minister reformed to be there to make the prayer… ”. The day ends in another prayer. Heavy task to impose on the “Gallant Green” this program of life monacale! Mornay returns to the load the following year: “ still Forgiven ung word with your trusty servants, lord. These loves if discovered, and aulxquels given to you such an amount of time, do not seem any more season ”. Of passage to Montauban in 1581, Henri de Navarre is made “Protective” city. Conscious of the crucial role of Montauban in the combat protesting, it names Duplessis-Mornay governor of the city.

During years 1585 - 1589, it provided - he was the true author of the texts signed by Henri de Navarre - the ideological weapons which will make it possible this one to gain the polemical combat. The purpose of work lampoonist produced by Mornay during this period was to constitute around the heir to the throne a gathering exceeding the denominational framework. Duplessis-Mornay insists on the principle of distinction of the policy and the monk against the Ligue which defends the idea according to which the religion conditions fidelity with the prince. Its will to politicize the conflict, vis-a-vis the determination of the members of a league remaining on the religious ground, enabled him to develop a thought likely to involve the adhesion of moderated catholics, such Montmorency, and majority of the princes of the Maison of Bourbon.

Philippe Duplessis-Mornay has much work for the bringing together between the king of France Henri III and Henri de Navarre. It is him which negotiates the agreement concluded in 1589 between the king and the heir to the throne. Henri de Navarre obtains Saumur, one of the principal citadels of the Calvinisme French with La Rochelle and the Poitou, like places safety. He entrusts the government of it to his faithful Mornay which takes its functions the April 15th 1589. There will remain the governor about it during thirty-two years, until the May 13rd 1621 and for this period he will be the thinking head of the Protestants, the “Pope of the Huguenot S”.

Its major political activity doubles of a military activity. Its value of combatant appears in the decisive battles which oppose the Huguenot S to the armies of the Ligue. It is illustrated in particular with the Bataille of Coutras, the October 20th 1587.

The defender of the reformed cause and the negotiator of the edict of Nantes

As of the accession with the throne of Henri IV, in 1589, the task of advising of Duplessis-Mornay, which was devoted so noblement to him in all its cross-pieces, helped it of the wise severity of its councils, from the powerful help of its feather, the strength of its arm will appear very difficult. In spite of the affectionate friendship and the recognition which the new king shows him, it is gradually isolated royal initiatives which often go against its councils. It must be satisfied to become the lawyer of the cause reformed near the new king, who is detached however gradually from his co-religionists and converts with the Catholicisme into 1593. Very marked by this reversal which it did everything to avoid and which it completely disapproves, Mornay knows from now on that it can nothing hope moreover than the concession, by the new convert, of a legal statute for the Huguenot S. Between 1593 and 1598, it tests more and more difficulties of associating religious political combat and combat. He however endeavors to reach that point, in the interest of the king and for the safety of the Churches, playing a key role lasting the years of negotiations which precede the signature by the edict of Nantes.

At the time where Henri de Navarre, still Huguenot, gained military successes bringing it closer to the throne, Mornay wrote on its behalf celebrates it Lettre in the three States of this kingdom , where he promised with the catholic the freedom of conscience and the guarantees protecting the minorities. It is what it requires and obtains in its turn for the Protestant during the negotiations preparing the edict of Nantes.

The crisis of Amiens, in 1597, makes him measure all the difficulty that there is to serve at the same time a catholic sovereign and the “true religion”. As of 1595, it acquires the conviction thus that face should again be carried out the two fights and it takes again the weapons on the theological ground by putting in building site its treaty on Eucharistie. When in 1598 the edict of Nantes comes to materialize the result of the political dimension of its action, it naturally decides to privilege the religious combat. The new religious treaties with the sharp tone published by Duplessis-Mornay irritate the sovereign, who publicly gives up it at the time of the Conférence of Fontainebleau (1600), during which Henri IV will sacrifice his former servant on the furnace bridge of the reconciliation with Rome, marking the end of the political influence of Mornay.

Voltaire did of Philippe Duplessis-Mornay one of the characters of his Henriade (1728), and wrote about it these worms:

“Not less careful friend than austere philosopher,

Mornay can discrete art begin again and like.

Its example informed well better than its speeches.

the solids virtues were its only loves.

Avid of work, insensitive with the delights,

It went of a firm step at the edge of the chasms.

Never the air of the court and its breath infected

did not deteriorate of its heart the austere purity”.

The governor of Saumur (1589-1621)

The April 15th 1589, Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu, secretary of the king, installs, in the name of Henri III, Philippe Duplessis-Mornay in the load of governor of Saumur, which was allotted to him at the request of Henri de Navarre, chief of the Huguenot S. It is then in its fortieth year and carried out up to now an animated existence, cumulating military, diplomatic and literary activities. Its strong personality dominates the city during 32 years and its print for one century will leave him.

Duplessis-Mornay does not order only the town of Saumur, it takes the head of a special government which is detached from the Anjou, the May 24th 1589, and which corresponds approximately to the spring of the Sénéchaussée of Saumur, with an appreciable enlarging on the country of Bourgueil.

The principal function of the governor is the maintenance of law and order. It has broad capacities at that time. General lieutenant of the king, it is assisted by a lieutenant of the king, ordering city and castle; below, a major directs the only garrison of the castle and, finally, several captains are with the head of the companies distributed in the city and on the other places. He must take care, in this disturbed time, so that the conflicts do not degenerate into violence between the Protestant and catholic . On the whole, Duplessis-Mornay holds the town of one comes up a little hard, but it is undoubtedly necessary to avoid the explosion of prompt passions to reappear. For twenty years, it maintained a peaceful coexistence - most pessimistic will say “a cold war”, to take again the formula of Richelieu - between the two concurrent local religions.

In the last years of the 16th century, Saumur is essential like the political capital of the Protestantisme French. A garrison of 364 men divided out of six companies is maintained there with the expenses the king. The city is quoted at the head in the list of the places of safety granted for eight years by the secret articles of the edict of Nantes.

In front of the threat of the ligueuses troops established in the Vendômois, Duplessis-Mornay fearing an attack against Saumur starts to reinforce the place, according to the instruction given by Henri IV. It then makes girdle the castle of important fortifications with steps and bastions. Important work of fortification is undertaken under its direction - in its youth, he had studied the fortified towns of Italy of North and had written on their subject a report now lost - of which a part is paid by the royal cassette under control of the treasurers of Tours.

In 1599, Duplessis-Mornay founds the “ Protestant Académie ”, which radiates on all France, is known in whole Europe and attracts many French and foreign students. In this academy, taught humanistic the Tanneguy the Boilerman whose girl, Mrs Dacier, by her translation of Homère, revived the Querelle of Old and of Modern the. Duplessis-Mornay will also create with Saumur a “ Académie of Horsemanship ”, which will give rise to the 18th century in current École of Cavalry of Saumur (the “ Cadre Noir ”).

The assassination of Henri IV, in which he sees the result of a vast conspiracy animated by the Jésuites, unconditional agents of the Papauté, causes at Mornay, a major emotion and a violent anger. Elected official chair of the General meeting of the churches reformed died of Henri IV in 1610, it attempts to defend the freedom of the Protestants against the policy of the regent Marie de Médicis and of the young king Louis XIII which generates a degradation of the political climate and monk.

In the years 1610, Duplessis-Mornay is in a situation constantly uncomfortable. The queen mother, Marie de Médicis, and the young king Louis XIII is militant catholics and guards of the religious orders which are established with Saumur. Opposite them, the “pope of Huguenots” defends the guarantees granted to the Protestant and often nibbled, without giving up affirming his ideas. Thus, in 1611, it publishes in Saumur the Mystery of Iniquity , where it denounces the evolution of the Papauté to conclude that the pope is the Antichrist. The book is condemned by the Sorbonne and causes polemics. But during some time still, as long as it controls the Protestant and calm company the troublemakers, its presence with the head of the government and the place of Saumur was essential to the royal capacity.

Death in disgrace (November 11th, 1623)

Duplessis-Mornay was tempted to emigrate with the Canada, it was seen offering important functions in Holland and England, but it preferred to remain with the service of its successive kings, not by an attachment of the vassalic type as to the Moyen-âge, but while referring constantly to a kind of “national conscience”.

The last years will be terrible for Duplessis-Mornay. A real hostility with regard to the governor reappears in the catholic population , when the crisis from 1620 begins. She fears to see it joining the Protestant revolt , which agitates all the West of the kingdom, which would undoubtedly be worth at the city the pangs of a seat. Violent incidents occur with Saumur the March 4th 1621, of which we have three poured divergent.

In front of the revolt which takes extension in the Mid-west and South-west, the young person Louis XIII (19 years) shows quarrelsome mood. Accompanied by Luynes, promoted Constable, it takes the April 25th 1621 the head of its troops. The May 11th, come from Turns by boat, it enters Saumur.

The May 15th, during two meetings of the the Council of the king, noting that it cannot leave the place to a Protestant garrison , Louis XIII suspends Mornay, initially for a three months duration. But very quickly, it replaces it by the Count de Sault, grandson of the marshal of Lesdiguières. The joy of the catholic local in front of the dismissal of Mornay is immense, but they cannot realize that it will leave a first decline there their city.

Already struck by an attack of apoplexy, which it probably leaves decreased, the May 16th 1620, Duplessis-Mornay is withdrawn in its baronnie Forest-on-Separates It, close to Cerizay, in the current department of the Two-Sevres, where, helped of its faithful secretary Jean Daillé, it classifies its abundant files, thus preparing the edition of its “ Mémoires ”.

Touched by new apoplectic attacks, he dies the November 11th 1623, according to the rites of well-dying reformed.

Family life

Philippe Duplessis-Mornay is the son of Jacques Mornay, lord of Buhy, catholic enthusiast, and of Francoise of the Nozzle-Crespin, sister of Charles II of the Nozzle, lord of Boury, burning follower of the Reform. Converted itself with the Protestantism, the mother of Philippe will inform his children in the reformed religion.

The January 3rd 1576, Philippe Duplessis-Mornay marries with Sedan Charlotte, girl of Guy Arbaleste, Viscount of Melun (1552), lord of Borde, president in the Chambre of the accounts of Paris (1555), having adhered to the Reform in 1569, and of Madeleine Chevalier, born Miss from Borde, lady of Esprunes and Vignaux, which will die in 1590, always catholic. Charlotte was widowed of Jean de Pas, lord of Martinsart, huguenot combatant at the sides of the Admiral de Coligny, died of the continuations of a wound the May 23rd 1569 with the Charity-on-Loire.

Charlotte Duplessis-Mornay will give rise to seven children of which four will survive: Marthe, (born the December 17th 1576); Elisabeth, (born on June 1st 1578, in England); Philippe, (born the July 20th 1579, in Antwerp); Anne, (born in 1583).

Charlotte Duplessis-Mornay is the author of a provided correspondence, but especially of “ Mémoires ”, whose manuscript autograph is preserved at the Library of the Sorbonne, which will remain new until in 1824. They are addressed to his/her Philippe son and are intended to convince it to defend the Protestant cause, to which most of the family had adhered. Convinced that its second husband is invested of a divine mission, Charlotte reports the history of the family and her engagement with the reformed cause. Tragic advertisement of died of their son Philippe, the October 23rd 1605, combatant in the army of Prince Maurice with Gueldres, and recipient of this work, puts an end to it. Charlotte, exhausted pain and of disease, stops her account the April 21st 1606 and dies out the May 15th same year.

Works

• Treated Church , (1578).

• Of the truth of the religion chrestienne. Against the atheists, epicureans, payens, Jews, mahumedists & other infidels , (1583).
• Fidelle exposure on the Declaration of the Duke of Mayenne containing Exploicts of war that it made in Guyenne (1587), (Makes out published anonymously and allotted to Philippe Duplessis-Mornay, which is probable being given the very hostile tone of this writing with regard to the duke of Mayenne, brother of the duke of Own way).
• Of the wise Institution and Doctrines of Blessed Sacrament of Eucharistie in the old Church , (1598).
• For the Council , (1600).
• Advertissement with the Jews on the arrival of the Messiah , 232 pages, (1607).
• the Mystery of Iniquity , 644 pages, (1611).
• Memories and correspondence , (1624).