Gilles, Jean

Gilles, Jean a French prelate, was born in Normandy. He studied theology and law at Paris, and became chanter of the metropolitan church there. Almost alone among the high clergy of France, Gilles refused to acknowledge Clerment VII (Robert of Geneva). He abandoned his benefice, and retired to Italy to Urban VI. who made him provost of Liege and auditor of the Rota. He was afterwards sent by the sacred college as nuncio to Rheims, to Treves, and to Cologne. In 1405 Innocent VII made him cardinal, with the title of St. Cosmo and St. Damian. He assisted at the conclave, November 30, 1406, which elected Gregory XII, but abandoned that pontiff when he discovered that the latter held his own interests as paramount to those of the Church, and that he rejected the means proposed for the termination of the schism (1408, 1409). Gilles returned to France, where he died about 1418. He left some fragmentary writings. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.