FARE, ANNE-LOUIS-HENRI de la. — Cardinal, b. 14 Nov. 1752 at Luçon (Vendée), d. 10 Dec. 1829 at Paris. Of a most ancient family of the lower nobility, he studied at the Sorbonne. Vicar general of the diocese of Dijon in 1778, bishop of Nancy in 1787, he was elected two years later as deputy of the clergy to the States General. When the States were constituted as the National Assembly, he opposed in every way the ecclesiastical reforms desired by the majority.
During the discussion on the suppression of religious orders, F. foresaw the aims of this measure and on 13 Feb. 1790 presented a motion that a decree be issued recognizing the Catholic religion as the religion of the State. The request met with opposition in the Assembly. Nevertheless, the bishop of Nancy continued the struggle strenuously. Besides speaking on various occasions, he published a work in which he maintained the incompetence of the legislative body to legislate on ecclesiastical matters without the consent of the Holy See (*Quelle doit être l'influence de l'Assemblée Nationale de France sur les matières ecclésiastiques et religieuses*, Paris 1790). Forced to leave France, he went to Vienna, where he attended to the interests of the émigrés at the Austrian court. He returned to France in 1814, becoming first almoner to the duchess of Angoulême. Archbishop of Sens in 1817, peer of France in 1822, he was created cardinal in the Consistory of 16 May 1823 by Pius VII.