Gelu, Jacques

Gelu, Jacques a French prelate, was born in the diocese of Treves about 1370. He studied at Paris, where his talents attracted the attention of the duke of Orleans, the brother of Charles VI, who took him into his service. After the assassination of his master by the duke of Bourgogne, Gelu entered the service of the king, was in 1407 president of the parliament of the Dauphine, and in 1414 archbishop of Tours. He attended the council at Constance, and was also present at the conclave held in 1417. In 1420 he went to Spain, being intrusted by the dauphin with a mission. In 1421 he left Naples, retired to his episcopal seat, and died September 17, 1432. When, in 1429, he was asked by the court of France concerning the validity of the revelations of Jeanne d'Arc, he spoke very favorably of her divine mission, and remarked that God has revealed himself more than once to virgins, as, for example, to the sibyls. See Martene, Thesaurus III; Boulliot, Biogr. Arden. (1830), 1:430; Paumier, in Lichtenberger's Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B.P.)