The former French Catholic diocese of Couserans existed perhaps from the fifth century to the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century. It covered the former province of Couserans, in south-west France. Its episcopal seat was in Saint-Lizier, a small town to the west of Foix. It was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Auch.
History
Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède
Couserans was the fifth of the Novempopulaniae civitates. In the 580's peace and a division of territories was arranged between the Merovingian kings Guntram (561–592) and Childebert II (575–595), in which the territory of Couserans was assigned to Childebert. According to Gregory of Tours, the first bishop was Valerius, before the sixth century. Bishop Glycerius was present at the Council of Agde in 506. According to Louis Duchesne, he should be identified with Lycerius whom the Gallia Christiana places later in the list of bishops. Lycerius was patron saint of St-Lizier, the town in which the bishops of Couserans had their official residence.
Up until the administration of Bishop Bernard de Marmiesse (1654–1680), the town of Saint-Lezier had two co-cathedrals, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède in the upper town next to the Episcopal Palace, and the Cathedral of St.-Lizier farther down to the south. Each co-cathedral was served by its own Chapter, each Chapter having a Precentor, a Sacristan, an Operarius, six Canons, ten Prebendarii and a priest called the Vicar Perpetuus. Over both Chapters stood the Archdeacon and the Aumonier. Bishop de Marmiesse united the two chapters and based them in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède; it was composed of the Archdeacon, two Precentors, two Sacristans, two Operarii, the Aumonier, twelve Canons, and two Vicarii perpetui; there were twenty-four prebends. In 1752 there was one dignity and twelve Canons.
^Valerius is known only through the report by Gregory of Tours of the discovery of his tomb: Gallia christiana I, pp. 1123-1125. He is not mentioned in the martyrologies, and there is no hagiography. Duchesne hints that there may have been a confusion due to a Roman tombstone of someone belonging to the Gens Valeria. Duchesne, p. 99 no. 1.
^Theodorus was represented at the Council of Orléans in 549 by the Archdeacon Eleutherius, and was present at the Council of Eauze in 551. He was the discoverer of the tomb of Saint Valerius. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 3. Friedrich Maassen (1893). Concilia aevi Merovingici (in Latin). Hannover: Hahn. pp. 112 and 115.
^Bishop Johannes was present at the Council of Paris in 614. Maassen, p. 192. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 4.
^Bishop Sesemundus was present at the Council of Bordeaux in the mid-670s. Maassen, p. 260. Duchesne, p. 99, no. 5.
^Wainard was the recipient of a letter of Pope John VIII, dated 13 June 879, on illicit marriages and clerical obedience to authority. J. Jaffé, Regesta pontificum Romanorum Tomus I editio altera (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 410, no. 3263. Duchesne, p. 99 no. 7.
^Rogerius was present in 887 at the translation of relics. Gallia christiana I, p. 1127.
^Raymond de Montaigu was transferred to Clermont. He died on 1 April 1340. Eubel, I, pp. 192, 203.
^Aemilius de Lautrec was a Doctor of Canon Law, and had been Chancellor of the Church of Toulouse. He was transferred to the diocese of Comminges on 18 May 1384. He was created a cardinal by Pope Clement VII on 12 July 1385. Eubel, I, p. 28 no. 23; p. 207; and p. 203.
^Arnaldus' existence depends on the testimony of the brothers Saint-Marthe: Gallia christiana I, p. 1136. His name is omitted by Eubel, I, p. 203, from the list of bishops of Couserans. Indeed there is no space for him in the attested chronology, unless he is considered an appointee of Urban VI (Roman Obedience), whose power did not extend to France.
^Bishop Pierre was transferred to the diocese of Castres in 1384, but the transfer never took place. He was transferred by Clement VII to Bourges on 17 October 1390. Eubel, I, pp. 139; 203, with n. 5.
^Bishop Robert had been Bishop of Alet (1386-1390), and was transferred to the diocese of Mende on 17 October 1390. Eubel, I, pp. 203, 237, 342.
^Geraldus was a Doctor of Canon Law and had been Bishop of Apt (1383–1390). He was transferred to the diocese of Uzès on 18 September 1405. Eubel, I, p. 96, 203 with note 6, 511. On his alleged successors Raymond and Guillaume Reol, who are passed over by Eubel (with comment in note 6), see: Gallia christiana I, p. 1137, where doubts are also raised.
^Sicard, a doctor in Canon Law and Canon of Narbonne, was a Cleric of the Apostolic Camera. He was granted his bulls on 20 November 1405 by Pope Benedict XIII. He sent legates to participate in the Council of Pisa, which opened in May 1409. He died on 19 July 1412. Gallia christiana I, p. 1137. Eubel, I, pp. 203-204.
^Guillaume had been Archdeacon of Vallisjuria in the diocese of Coutances. He was appointed by John XXIII. Gallia christiana I, p. 1137. Eubel, I, p. 204.
^Bishop Arnaud was transferred to the diocese of Lescar on 18 May 1425, at the same time as Jean III was transferred from the diocese of Lecscar to Couserans. Eubel, I, pp. 204, 295.
^Faidit was a Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, and had been a Canon of the Cathedral of Toulouse and Cantor of the Cathedral of Lavaur. He was a papal Referendary, when Pope Martin V rejected the choice of the Chapter of Montaubon, and appointed Gérard Bishop of Montaubon on 5 June 1424. His own successor at Montaubon was approved on 5 June 1424. Eubel, I, p. 347.
^Andre participated in the 25th session of the Council of Florence on 23 March 1439. Gallia christiana I, p. 1138. Eubel, II, p. 134.
^Guiscard d'Aubusson's brother was Grand Master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. Guiscard had been promised a cardinalate, but it was never granted. Guiscard was transferred to the diocese of Cahors on 10 March 1475. Kenneth M. Setton (1978). The Papacy and the Levant, 1204-1571: The Fifteenth Century. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. pp. 392–393. ISBN978-0-87169-127-9. Guillaume de La Croix (1879). Histoire des évêques de Cahors, tr. du lat. par L. Ayma (in French). Vol. Tome II. Cahors: Plantade. pp. 297–299. Eubel, II, pp. 123, 134.
^Charles de Grammont was transferred to the diocese of Aire on 24 April 1523. Eubel, III, pp. 95 and 176, with notes 5 and 6.
^Gabriel de Grammont was transferred to the diocese of Tarbes on 19 September 1524. Eubel, III, pp. 176 and 309.
^Martory was a Doctor of Canon Law. He had been Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Orleans when nominated Bishop of Tarbes (1514–1524) by King Francis I. He was transferred to Couserans on 19 September 1524. He died in 1548. Eubel, III, p. 176, p. 309 with n. 4.
^A native of Toulouse, Marmiesse was a Doctor of Theology (Sorbonne). He was preconized by Pope Innocent X on 19 October 1654. Gauchat, IV, p. 161, with note 6.
^Saint-Estève was a bachelor in theology (Paris). He was nominated bishop by King Louis XIV on 24 February 1680, and preconized (approved) by Pope Innocent XI on 15 July 1680. He died on 24 December 1707. Jean, p. 78. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 3.
^Verthamont was born in the Chateau de Chalucet (Limoges), and was a doctor of theology. He had been Vicar-General of Pamiers. On 17 January 1708 he was nominated bishop of Couserans by King Louis XIV, and preconized (approved) by Pope Clement XI on 26 March 1708. Jean, p. 78. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 4.
^Prémeaux was a native of Dijon. His elder brother was Bishop of Périgueux (1732–1771). Jean-François was Doctor of Theology (Besancon), and was Vicar General of Narbonne. He was nominated by King Louis XV on 29 March 1726, and preconized (approved) by Pope Benedict XIII on 9 December 1726; he was consecrated on 12 January 1727. Jean, p. 78-79. Ritzler, V, p. 169 with note 5. Ritzler, VI, p. 334 with note 2.
^Dominique de Lastic was born at Saint-Chatély in the diocese of Mende, and obtained a Licenciate in theology from the University of Paris. He was the nephew of Antoine de Lastic Bishop of Comminges (1740–1763). For twelve years he served as a Vicar General of Rouen. He was nominated bishop of Couserans on 3 October 1779 by King Louis XVI, and approved (preconized) by Pope Pius VI on 13 December 1779. He died in exile in Münster on 3 March 1795. Jean, p. 79. Ritzler, VI, p. 179 with note 3; 181.
