BREVICOXA. - It is the Latinized name of Jean Courtecuisse. A theologian, statesman and orator of the University of Paris at the time of the Western Schism, he was born at Haleine (Orne) around the middle of the 14th century and died at Geneva on 4 March 1423. He studied at the Collège de Navarre in Paris, where he later taught theology with such success as to earn the title of Doctor sublimis. Protected by the court, he obtained many benefices and ecclesiastical offices and took an active part in all the initiatives for the abolition of the schism. Appointed bishop of Paris on 27 December 1420 by the will of Charles VI, on account of the opposition of Henry V of England he was unable to remain there; he was therefore transferred by the Pope to the cathedral of Geneva.

Several theological works and various sermons of his survive in manuscript. Only the Tractatus de fide et Ecclesia, de Romano pontifice et concilio generali (Paris 1706) is in print, in which B. denies the infallibility of the Pope and defends the superiority of the ecumenical council.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: L. Froger, Jean Courtecuisse, chanoine du Mans et évêque de Genève (vers 1350-1423), in La province du Maine, 13 (1903), pp. 221-27; A. Bigelmair, s. v. in LThK, II, col. 551; Hurter, II, coll. 755-56; E. Mangenot, s. v. in DThC, III, coll. 1984-85.

Angelo Penna

@incollection{ec3_brevicoxa, author = {Penna, Angelo}, title = {Brevicoxa}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {III}, pages = {87}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/brevicoxa} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

About this entry