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John of Lorraine (April 9, 1498 – May 18, 1550) was a French cardinal, who was archbishop of Reims, Lyon and Narbonne, bishop of Metz, Toul, Verdun, Thérouanne, Luçon, Albi, Valence, Nantes and Agen.
Biography
Born in Bar-le-Duc, John was the son of René II, Duke of Lorraine and younger brother of Antoine, Duke of Lorraine and Claude, Duke of Guise.
He is considered a corrupt ruler who before he died squandered most of the wealth which he had derived from these and other benefices. Part of his ecclesiastical preferment he gave up in favour of his nephews. He became a member of the royal council in 1530, and in 1536 was entrusted with an embassy to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Although a complaisant helper in Francis's pleasures, he was disgraced in 1542, and retired to Rome.
He was extremely dissolute, but as an open-handed patron of art and learning, as the protector and friend of Erasmus, Marot and Rabelais he did something to counter-balance the general unpopularity of his calculating brother, the duke of Guise.
He died in Neuvy-sur-Loire in 1550.
See also
References
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