ANGOULÊME, Diocese of. - An episcopal see, suffragan of Bordeaux, A. (Engolisma) is a city of western France, on a hill washed by the Charente, the ancient capital of the Angoumois.
St. Ausonius (3rd or 4th century) is the first known bishop of A. A sanctuary was dedicated to his name in the episcopal city as early as the 10th century. The origins of the diocese, however, remain shrouded in obscurity until the Merovingian era, in which the names of certain bishops of A. are revealed by the legend of St. Cybard (537-81), a famous hermit in whose honor Pepin I, king of Aquitaine (817-38), founded, at the request of the bishop of A., Fredebert, the famous abbey that took his name.
Several councils were held in the episcopal city: in 1117, 1118 and 1121, under the presidency of Bishop Gerard (1102-1135), and, in 1170, under that of Peter I Laumond. Bishop Gerard was of particular importance for the position he took in favor of Anacletus II during the schism of 1130-38. Situated on the borders of French and English influence, the Angoumois, first an independent county, then annexed to the kingdom of France in 1307, suffered greatly from political conflicts. After the Hundred Years' War, which ruined many monasteries, the Reformation began to be introduced there in 1534 by Calvin himself, then from 1559 onward it raged there with numerous atrocities. It was necessary to wait until the end of the century to see Catholicism flourish there again and, with it, monastic life.
The diocese, after seeing its boundaries reorganized in 1798, 1802 and 1823, is today made up of the department of the Charente (5938 sq. km.). It comprises 362 parishes. The Catholic inhabitants number 300,000; the diocesan priests 260 and the regulars 30.
Bibliography11 worksU. Chevalier, Répertoire des sources historiques du moyen-âge. Topo-bibliographie, Paris 1894-1903, coll. 157-59. In particular: Gallia Chri
BIBL.: U. Chevalier, Répertoire des sources historiques du moyen-âge. Topo-bibliographie, Paris 1894-1903, coll. 157-59. In particular: Gallia Christiana, II, Paris 1720, coll. 975-1052, and Instrumenta, coll. 443-54; I. Nanyard, Pouillé historique du diocèse d'A., 4 vols., Angoulême 1894-1903; ed., Cartulaire de l'église d'A., ibid. 1900; Ab. Tricore, Les évêques d'A., Angoulême 1900; Eubel, I, p. 249; II, p. 167; III, p. 209; J. de La Martinière, Saint Cybard, étude critique d'hagographie, Paris 1908; L. Duchesne, Pures episcopales de l'ancienne Gaule, II, 2nd ed., Paris 1910, pp. 64-72, 135-37; J. de La Martinière, s. v. in DIIG, III, coll. 242-57; P. F. Palumbo, Lo Scisma del 1130, Rome 1942.
Soirat, Antonio. “Angoulème, diocesi di.” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, coll. 1283–1284. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948. https://azioneromana.com/article/angouleme-diocesi-di.
MLA
Soirat, Antonio. “Angoulème, diocesi di.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948, coll. 1283–1284. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/angouleme-diocesi-di.
BibTeX
@incollection{ec1_angouleme_diocesi_di,
author = {Soirat, Antonio},
title = {Angoulème, diocesi di},
booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
volume = {I},
pages = {1283--1284},
note = {Cited by column},
publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
address = {Città del Vaticano},
year = {1948},
url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/angouleme-diocesi-di}
}
One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.
Click or scroll to zoom · drag to pan · Esc to close
