The former French Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux (
Latin: Dioecesis Sancti Pauli Tricastinorum; French: Diocèse de Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux), sometimes, just like the town, also known as the Diocese of Saint-Paul-en-Tricastin (
Latin: Dioecesis Sancti Pauli Tricastinorum;
French: Diocèse de Saint-Paul-en-Tricastin), existed from the sixth century to the
French Revolution.
According to a legend of the fifteenth century,
St. Restitutus, first Bishop of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, was the man born blind, mentioned in the Gospel. Local traditions also make Saints Eusebuis, Torquatus, Paulus, Amantius, Sulpicius, Bonifatius, Castorinus and Michael early bishops of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. Of those,
Louis Duchesne regards St. Paulus (fourth or sixth century),
patron saint of the city, as the only known bishop, after whom the see was named.
Owing to Saracen ravages from Iberia (827-29) the see of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux was, by Decree of
Gregory IV, united aeque principaliter (i.e. in
personal union) with that of Orange until 1107, when the
Diocese of Orange was re-established.
In 1911.06.12, it was united (as title of its Bishops) with the
Diocese of Valence. Its Former Cathedral, Ancienne cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Paul, dedicated to Saint-Paul and Our Lady, was not granted co-cathedral status.
Jean Coci,
Augustinian Order (O.E.S.A.) (1349.11.04 – death 1361), previously Bishop of
Vence (France) (1347.08.06 – 1348.08.14), Bishop of
Grasse (France) (1348.08.14 – 1349.11.04)
Jacques Artaud (1364-1367), next Bishop of
Gap (France) (1366 – 1399)
Raimond Geoffroy de Castellane (1367-1378)
Aimar Fabri de La Roche = Adhémar Fabri de La Roche,
Dominican Order (O.P.) (1378.11.10 – 1385.07.12), previously Bishop of
Bethléem à Clamecy (France) (1363.11.13 – 1378.11.10); later Bishop of
Genève (
Switzerland) (1385.07.12 – death 1388.10.08)
Apostolic Administrator Father Astorge Aimery (1478 – 1480.12.11), no other prelature; next Metropolitan Archbishop of
Vienne (France) (1480.12.11 – death 1482)
Apostolic Administrator Father Antoine de Lévis de Château-Morand (1516 – 1526), without prelature; later Metropolitan Archbishop of
Embrun (France) (1526 – 1561) and Bishop of
Saint-Flour (France) (1547 – death 1565)
Jacques Adhémar de Monteil de Grignan (1645.03.20 – 1657), next
Coadjutor Bishop of Uzès (France) ([1657.05.22] 1658.09.30 – 1660.02.12), succeeding as Bishop of Uzès (France) (1660.02.12 – death 1674.09.13)
Claude Ruffier (1657-1674)
Luc D'Acquin (1674-1680)
Louis-Aube de Roquemartine (1682.05.25 – death 1713.09.19), previously Bishop of Grasse (France) ([1675.09.16] 1676.11.16 – 1682.05.25)
Joseph-Maurel du Chaffaut (1714-1717)
Claude de Simiane de Gordes (1717-1743)
Pierre-François-Xavier de Reboul de Lambert (1743-1791)
^Bishop Paulus is identified with the Paulus who attended the council of Valence on 12 July 374. The name of the diocese and the name of the bishop, however, do not appear together. Duchesne, p. 263.
^Bishop Florentius attended the Council of Epaone in 517, and the Council of Lyon, which was held between 518 and 523. Duchesne, p. 264, no. 2. Carolus de Clercq, Concilia Galliae (Turnhold: Brepols 1963), p. 36 ("Item Florentius in Christi nomine episcopus ciuitatis Trecastininsis relegi et subscripsi.").
^ Gaucerand had been abbot of the monastery of Insula Barbara near Lyon. Bishop Gaucerand died on 10 May 1211. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 497 with note 1.
Albanès, Joseph Hyacinthe (1885). "Les évêques de Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, au quatorzième siècle," (in French), in: Bulletin d'histoire ecclésiastique et d'archéologie religieuse des diocéses de Valence, Digne, Gap, Grenoble et Viviers,Vol. 5 (1885), pp. 383-408.
Vol. 6 (1885), pp. 5-34.
Albanès, Joseph Hyacinthe (1904).
Gallia christiana novissima. (in Latin). Volume 4. Valence: Imp. Valentinoise, 1904.
Bergin, Joseph. The Making of the French Episcopate, 1589-1661. [full citation needed]