Philippe of Alençon

Who is Philippe of Alençon?

Philippe II of Alençon was a French cardinal who was a member of the Valois Dynasty. He was the second son of Count Charles II of Alençon, who was killed in the Battle of Crécy, and of Maria de La Cerda y de Lara. He was the younger brother of Count Charles III of Alençon.

Born in the region of French Brie, now the Department of Seine-et-Marne, Philippe entered Church service at an early age. He might have been the Archdeacon of Brie in his native Diocese of Meaux as a teenager. Philippe was named bishop of the Diocese of Beauvais, where he arrived on 24 March 1356 to take possession of the see, though he had not yet been consecrated, the details of which have been lost. After several years had passed without the confirmation of his appointment by the cathedral chapter, on 14 June 1360 he left to become the Archbishop of Rouen. Several years later, he entered into a dispute with King Charles V of France due to his refusal to grant a benefice to a priest whom the king had recommended.