Background
He was born in 1412 in either Valmont or Estouteville-Écalles in the Duchy of Normandy.
He was born in 1412 in either Valmont or Estouteville-Écalles in the Duchy of Normandy.
He was sent to France as legate by Pope Nicholas V to make peace between Charles VII and England (1451), and undertook, ex officio, the revision of the trial of Joan of Arc. He afterwards reformed the statutes of the university of Paris. He then went to preside over the assembly of clergy which met at Bourges to discuss the observation of the Pragmatic Sanction, finally returning to Rome, where he passed almost all the rest of his life.
He was a great builder, Rouen, Mont St Michel, Pontoise and Gaillon owing many noble buildings to his initiative.
He held a number of Church offices simultaneously. He conducted the reexamination of the case of Jeanne d'Arc and exonerated her of the charges against her. He reformed the Statutes of the University of Paris. In Rome he became one of the most influential members of the Curia, as the official Protector of France in church business.
