Clamenges (Claminges, or Clemangis), Matthieu Nicolas De

Clamenges (Claminges, or Clemangis), Matthieu Nicolas De a French theologian, was born about 1360, in the village of Clamenges (Clemangia), near Chalons, in Champagne. He went to Paris at the age of twelve, and was admitted to the College of Navarre, of which his uncle, Pierre de Clamenges, a celebrated physician, was master. There he distinguished himself by his poetry. In 1393 he became rector. of the Academy at Paris.. In 1394 he presented a treatise on the royal authority, which caused a conflict between the University of Paris and the government of Charles VI, in consequence of which the schools were closed for some time. It is said that this conflict even caused the death of pope Clement VII. His successor, Benedict XIII, made Clamenges his secretary. But in 1408 a bull of excommunication was sent forth by the pope against Charles VI, in consequence of which Clamenges was obliged to spend several years in Tuscany, in the Abbey of Vallombrosa. After this, however, he went back to France, and was successively treasurer of Langres, cantor and archdeacon of Bayeux. He spent his last years at the College of Navarre, and died there about 1440, leaving a number of works, for which see Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Jocher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexikon, s.v.