François de Harlay de Champvallon

Louis-Antoine de Noailles
Louis-Antoine de Noailles
Other post(s)	Archbishop of Rouen
Personal details
Born	14 August 1625; Paris, France
Died	6 August 1695 (aged 69); Paris, France
Nationality	French
Alma mater	College of Navarre, Paris
Coat of arms

François de Harlay de Champvallon (François III de Harlay; 14 August 1625 – 6 August 1695) was the fifth

Archbishop of Paris

.

Life and church

Early years

Harlay de Champvallon was born in Paris, the nephew of

cardinalate

, though this did not have effect.

Career

During the early part of his political career he was a firm adherent of

Bossuet accused him of truckling to the court like a valet.^[1]

Though no official act has survived, it is reliably thought that Harlay officiated in a private ceremony at the king's marriage with

Madame de Maintenon after a Mass celebrated by Père la Chaise, the king's confessor, and in the presence of only three witnesses, the Marquis de Montchevreuil, the Chevalier de Forbin and Alexandre Bontemps. Harlay was hated by the bride for using his influence with the king to keep the matter secret.^[1]

He had a weekly audience of Louis XIV in company with

Saint-Simon, who bore him no good will for his harsh attitude to the Jansenists, says that his friends deserted him as the royal favour waned, until at last most of his time was spent at his Château de Conflans (in Charenton-le-Pont)^[2] in the company of Paule-Françoise de Gondi, duchess of Lesdiguieres, who alone was faithful to him.^[1]

Saint-Simon records that they were fond of walking through the magnificent gardens there, while a servant followed at a respectful distance to rake the gravel disturbed by their feet.

Harlay urged the

Huguenot

citizens flee abroad, partly it is said on account of Harlay's severity.

Personal life

Harlay de Champvallon died suddenly, without having received the sacraments, on 6 August 1695. His funeral discourse was delivered by Père Gaillard, and Mme de Sévigné made on the occasion the severe comment that there were only two trifles to make this a difficult matter — his life and his death.^[1]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Chisholm 1911.
^ The château got its name from its location near the confluence of the Seine and the Marne (F. Hamilton Hazlehurst, "Le Nostre at Conflans, Garden of the Archbishop of Paris", pp. 27–40, in The French Formal Garden, Washington, DC, Dumbarton Oaks, 1974). See also "Château de Conflans à Charenton-le-Pont".

References

Abbé Legendre, Vita Francisci de Harlay (Paris, 1720) and Eloge de Harlay (1695)
Saint-Simon, Mémoires (vol. ii., ed. A de Boislisle, 1879)
Numerous references in the Lettres of Mme de Sévigné.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Harlay de Champvallon, François de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 954.

External links

Media related to François de Harlay de Champvallon at Wikimedia Commons

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Hardouin de Péréfixe de Beaumont	Archbishop of Paris 1671–1695	Succeeded by Louis Antoine de Noailles

[FOOTNOTEChisholm1911-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Chisholm 1911.

[2] The château got its name from its location near the confluence of the Seine and the Marne (F. Hamilton Hazlehurst, "Le Nostre at Conflans, Garden of the Archbishop of Paris", pp. 27–40, in The French Formal Garden, Washington, DC, Dumbarton Oaks, 1974). See also "Château de Conflans à Charenton-le-Pont".

[1]

[2]