Jacques-Théodore de Bryas

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Jacques-Théodore de Bryas
Archbishop of Cambrai
Church	Catholic
Diocese	Cambrai
See	Notre Dame de Cambrai
Installed	28 October 1675
Term ended	16 November 1694
Predecessor	Ladislas Jonart
Successor	François Fénelon
Other post(s)	Bishop of Saint-Omer
Previous post(s)	Ecclesiastical councillor on the Great Council of Mechelen
Orders
Consecration	29 May 1672
Personal details
Born	1630 Mariembourg, County of Hainaut, Habsburg Netherlands
Died	16 November 1694 Cambrai, Cambrésis, Kingdom of France
Parents	Charles de Bryas and Anne Philiberte de Lierre d'Immerseele
Profession	Canonist
Alma mater	University of Douai
Motto	Difficiliora quae pulchra

Jacques-Théodore de Bryas (1630–1694) was a clergyman from the Low Countries who was in turn bishop of Saint-Omer and archbishop of Cambrai. In the last position he was, ex officio, duke of Cambrai and count of Cambrésis. He was the last archbishop to be elected by the cathedral chapter rather than nominated by the King of France.

Life

De Bryas was born in Mariembourg, the second son of Count Charles de Bryas and Anne Philiberte de Lierre d'Immerseele.^[1] After studying canon law at the University of Douai, he obtained a canonry of Tournai Cathedral in 1655.^[2] By letters patent of 12 December 1666 he was appointed ecclesiastical councillor on the Great Council of Mechelen, the highest law court in the Habsburg Netherlands.^[2]

In 1671, de Bryas was named bishop of Saint-Omer in succession to Ladislas Jonart, who had just been translated to Cambrai.^[3] He took possession of the see by procuration on 11 April 1672 and made his solemn entry into the see on 11 June 1672.^[3] At Jonart's death, de Bryas again succeeded him, now as archbishop of Cambrai, where he was installed on 28 October 1675.^[3] Eighteen months later, Louis XIV of France took control of the city at the conclusion of the Siege of Cambrai, and by the Treaties of Nijmegen the Habsburgs ceded the duchy of Cambrai to French control. A report to the new king described the archbishop as eating simply off pewter tableware, and spending his free time visiting the sick and prisoners.^[2]

On 30 August 1682, the cathedral chapter formally relinquished their ancient privilege of electing the bishop, bringing the diocese into line with the rest of France, where the nomination of bishops was a royal prerogative.^[3]

De Bryas died on 16 November 1694.^[3]

References

^ M. de Vegiano, Nobiliaire des Pays-Bas et du comté de Bourgogne, edited by J.S.F.J.L. de Herckenrode, vol. 1 (Ghent, 1865), pp. 312-313.
^ ^a ^b ^c Edmond Reusens, "Bryas (Jacques-Théodore de)", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 3 (Brussels, 1872), 505-506.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Honoré Fisquet, La France pontificale (Gallia Christiana): Cambrai (Paris, Étienne Repos, 1864), pp. 279-280. On Google Books.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Ladislas Jonart	Bishop of Saint-Omer 1672–1675	Succeeded by Jean Charles de Longueval
Preceded by Ladislas Jonart	Archbishop of Cambrai 1675–1694	Succeeded by François Fénelon

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