Rene de Birague

Rene de Birague , also Biraghe or Biragro , born with Milan, in Italy the February 2nd 1506 and dead the November 24th 1583 with Paris, was a servant of the last Valois.

It left a noble and old house, attached to the France. After the defeat of François Ier with Pavia in 1525, it must withdraw in France to escape the revenge on Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan. François Ier and Henri II employ it for several missions in Italy: it is to advise of the marshal of Brissac in Piedmont, then first president of the senate of Turin, finally lieutenant - general with the government of Piedmont.

In 1565, it is naturalized French. He became adviser with the Parlement of Paris, then governor of the Forez, the Lyonnais and the Beaujolais. It is named superintendent of justice, then Minister of Justice in 1570. It seems to be one of the inspirers of the Massacre of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572. In 1573, it was rewarded for its services while being named chancellor to replace Michel of Hospital.

He plays a great part under the reign of Henri III like one of the principal opponents to the Protestants. Become widowed, he embraced on the end of his life the ecclesiastical state and became bishop of Lavaur, then cardinal, 1578 but the king withdraws to him the function of Minister of Justice. In 1579, it is named commander of the Ordre of the Holy Spirit lately created.

It was shown several poisonings; it is one of those which introduced in France the policy Machiavélique. Saint-Simon said some: " man without any knowledge, justice and perhaps without religion, sold with fortune, Guise".

External bonds

Iconography:

Portrait - oil on fabric - Versailles, castles of Versailles and Trianon
Sculpture of Germain Rammer - bronzes - Paris, museum of Louvre

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