Antonio Duprat

Background

Duprat was born in Issoire in Auvergne.

Career

Antoine Duprat (17 January 1463 – 1535) was a French Cardinal and politician, Lord of Nantouillet, Count of Valtellina, Britain, and of the Duchy of Milan, was chancellor of France. In 1515 Francis I of France made him chancellor of France and prime minister. Duprat"s influence extended much beyond the departments of justice and finance placed under his direct control.

French historian Gabriel Hanotaux, in the introduction to his Recueil des instructions, calls Duprat

one of the most notable men of ancient France, second only to Richelieu in the decisive influence he exercised on the destinies of his country.

This influence was constantly exerted to strengthen royal absolute power. lieutenant was felt in the measures he took against the grands Seigneurs and in his elaborate fiscal system.

Duprat left no writings, but took a leading part in the compilation of the "Coutumes d"Auvergne". He also did much to encourage the renaissance of letters.

The Concordat, which Duprat himself negotiated with Pope Leo X at Bologna, did away with the principles of the "Pragmatic Sanction".

On the other hand, by causing the appointment of the French hierarchy to rest on royal nomination instead of the old canonical elections, it vested in the civil power an authority over Church affairs The Sorbonne and the Parlement were instructed to exclude the writings of the innovators. In 1534 the posting of subversive pamphlets at the door of the royal apartments cost the perpetrators their lives.

Despite being archbishop of Sens for several years, the first time he entered the cathedral there was for his own funeral.

This shows how he abstained from some of his responsibilities, thus leading us to acknowledge clerical ignorance and absenteeism of the time.

Achievements

• Educated for the law, he won a high position in his profession and in 1507 became first president of the Parlement of Paris (the highest court of France).