Jean Le Veneur

Jean Le Veneur (died 8 August 1543), son of a Norman baron, was a French Abbot, Bishop, Courtier, royal official, and Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography He was born into a noble family of Normandy. He was the second son of Philippe, baron of Tillières, Valquier and Homme; his mother was Marie Blosset, the sister of Bishop Stephen Blosset de Carouges of Lisieux (1482-1505). Jean le Veneur's brother Gabriel inherited the baronies. His brother Ambroise became Bishop of Évreux (1511-1532), and his first-cousin on his mother's side, Jacques d'Annebaut, eventually became a Cardinal himself. Canon, Archdeacon, Abbot Le Veneur's first post was as titular parish priest at Nôtre-Dame et Saint-Léonard in Honfleur in 1497. At the age of twenty-four, Jean le Veneur became Archdeacon of Auge in the Church of Lisieux, no doubt both under his uncle's patronage. He became Abbot of the Abbey of Grestain in the diocese of Lisieux thanks to the intervention of his uncle and of King Louis XII. He took possession of the monastery on 29 May 1503 by proxy, and on 26 May 1504 in person. He was also a Canon of the Church of Paris. Bishop