ESTRÉES, CÉSAR d'. - Cardinal, b. in Paris on 5 Feb. 1628, d. there on 18 Dec. 1714. Son of Francesco Annibale, he took his doctorate at the Sorbonne and was appointed bishop of Laon; having proved himself an able diplomat, he received assignments from the king in Germany and Spain.
Ambassador to the Holy See, he supported the interests of the crown with strenuous zeal, often employing overbearing and bold methods, which also earned him severe censures from the Pope. He obtained the cardinal’s hat from Clement X on 5 Feb. 1671 (published 16 May 1672). He took part in four conclaves; he contributed to the election of Clement XI. He had a part in the composition of the so-called Clementine peace (1669) concerning the four Jansenist bishops, and in the condemnation of Molinos and other Quietists. He accompanied Filippo V to Spain, where he remained for some years. A member of the French Academy, he was associated with the most distinguished men of his time, among whom he exercised a considerable influence; he resigned the bishopric of Laon in 1681 and received from the King the abbey of St-Germain-des-Prés, where he died at the age of 87.
BIBLI: Pastor, XIV-XV, passim: M. Petrocchi. Il quintum italiano del Seicento. Roma 1948. V. indice. Antonio Ciarellini.