Ursins

Ursins (Orsini), the name of a French family eminent, from the 15th century, for its services in State and Church and historical literature. Two of them are- appropriate here.

1. JACQUES JOUVENEL DES, brother of the succeeding, was born in Paris, Oct. 14, 1410, and became successively archdeacon of the Cathedral of Paris (1441) and archbishop of Rheims (Sept. 25,1444); but in 1449 he resigned the latter position in-favor of his brother, receiving the two dioceses of Poitiers and Frejus. He died at Poitiers, March 12, 1457. He was occupied in several political and ecclesiastical negotiations of the time.

2. JEAN JUVENAL (or Jouvenel des), Jr., a prelate and historian, was born in Paris, Nov. 23,1388, and, after studying at Orleans and Paris, became doctor in utroquejure, and enjoyed some minor offices; but was driven into exile with his parents in 1418. In 1425 he returned as advocate- general under Charles VII, and soon rose through lower ecclesiastical positions to the bishopric of Beauvais (1431). In 1444 he was transferred to-the see of Laon, and in 1449 he became archbishop of Rheims, where he died, July 14, 1473. He was engaged in several diplomatic embassies, and wrote a number of ecclesiastical works, for which see Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.