The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lescar (Latin: Dioecesis Lascurrensis; French: Diocèse de Lescar; Basque: Leskarreko elizbarrutia), in south-western France, was founded in the fifth century, and continued until 1790. It was originally part of the Province of Novempopulania, and Lescar held the seventh place among the cities. Its see was the Cathedral of the Assumption in Lescar, begun in 1120; the crypt of the cathedral was also the mausoleum of the family of Albret in the 16th century.Gallia christiana I (1715), pp. 1283-1284.
The bishopric was suppressed by the Legislative Assembly during the French Revolution, in the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in September 1790, as part of a systematic effort to eliminate redundant bishoprics in France. By the Concordat of 1801, struck by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, the diocese of Lescar was not revived, and the territory of the diocese was divided between the diocese of Agen and the diocese of Bayonne.Lescar (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]
Bishops of Lescar
to 1200
? c. 506: Saint Julien I.The old prayer book (Breviarium) of the diocese of Lescar states that Julianus was a deacon of the Church of Trier, who was consecrated a bishop by St. Leontius of Trier (died 19 February 446, according to Gams, p. 318). The editors of Gallia christiana (I, p. 1285) argue that Julianus belongs at the beginning of the fourth century. The Breviarium says that Leontius was a native of Aquitaine, which may be a fact or a wish. The Martyrologicum Gallicanum (quoted by Dubarat at p. xviii) also says that Julian took part in the Council of Orange in 441. The name Julius does appear, but no bishopric is named: J. Sirmond, Conciliorum Galliae Collectio I (Paris 1789), pp. 461-462. c. 506?: Galactorius of LescarGalactorius was present at the First Council of Agde in 506, signing as Bishop of Béarn (de Benarno): J. Sirmond Conciliorum Galliae Collectio (Paris 1789), I, p. 799. Gallia christiana I, p. 1285. c. 585: Sabinus or SavinSavinus subscribed as Bishop of Béarn (de Benarno) in the Council of Macon in 585. Duchesne, II, p. 100. c. 680: Julien II. c. 731: Julien III. c. 841: Spaleus 841–1059: Vacant c. 1059: Raymond I. le Vieux 1061–1072: Gregor 1075–1080: Bernard I. 1095–1115: Sanche I. 1115–1141: Gui or Guido de Loth (Guy de Lons) 1147–1154: Raymond II. d'Assade c. 1168: Eudes I. or Odon c. 1170: Guillaume I. c. 1180: Sanche II. Aner or Sanzanier de Gerderest
1200 to 1400
c. 1200: Bertrand I. 1205–1213: Arsias c. 1220: Raymond III. de Bénac c. 1231: Sanctius 1247–1268: Bertrand II. de La Mothe 1269–1292: Arnaud I. de Morlanne (or de Morlaas) 1293–1301: Raymond IV. Auger 1303–1320: Arnaud II. d'Arbus 1320–1321: Guillaume II. 1321–1325: Arnaud III. de Saut 1326–1348: Raymond V. d'Andoins 1348–1352: Arnaud IV. 1352–1361: Guillaume III. d'Andoins 1362–1368: Bernard II. 1368–1401: Eudes II.
1400 to 1600
1402–1404: Jean I. (Avignon Obedience) 1405–1422: Cardinal Pierre de Foix (Appointed by Alexander V)Eubel, I, p. 295. 1425–1428: Arnaud V. de Salies or Salinis 1428–1433: Arnaud VI. d'Abadie 1453–1460: Pierre II. de Foix 1460–1475: Jean II. de Lévis 1481–1492: Robert d'Épinay 1513–1515: Cardinal Amanieu d'Albret 1518–1525: Jean III. de La Salle 1525–1530: Paul de Béarn (or de Foix) 1532–1553: Jacques de FoixBishop Jacques de Foix was a firm supporter of Henri IV, became his Chancellor for Foix and Béarn, and was his President of the Estates of Béarn. Labu, pp. 137-143. 1554–1555: Jean IV. de Capdeville 1555: Cardinal Georges d'Armagnac, AdministratorEubel, III, p. 219. Du Tems, I, p. 550. Gallia christiana, I, p. 1298. 1555–1569: Louis d'AlbretAlbret's Bulls were approved by Pope Julius III on 25 January 1555: Eubel, III, p. 219. He was accused of heresy and expelled in 1569: Du Tems, I, p. 550 1575–1590: Jean V.
1600 to 1800
1600–1609: Jean-Pierre d'Abadie 1609–1632: Jean VI. de Salettes 1632–1658: Jean-Henri de Salettes 1658–1681: Jean VII. du Haut de Salies 1681–1716: Dominique Deslaux de MesplèsDominique Deslaux de Mesplès had been married, had a family, and was a municipal magistrate in Pau, and President of the Parliament of Navarre. When his wife died, he entered the priesthood. He was nominated bishop by Louis XIV on 31 May 1681, and granted his bulls by Pope Innocent XI on 1 December 1681. Ritzler, V, p. 237 and n. 3. 1716–1729: Martin de Lacassaigne 1730–1762: Hardouin de Châlons 1763–1790 (1801): Marc-Antoine de Noé
See also Catholic Church in France List of Catholic dioceses in France
Notes
Bibliography
Reference books pp. 563–564. (Use with caution; obsolete) p. 295. (in Latin) p. 173. pp. 219–220. p. 216. pp. 237–238. p. 254.
Studies
p. 100.