Arnaud de Pellegrue

Who was Arnaud de Pellegrue?

Arnaud de Pellegrue was a cardinal-nephew of Pope Clement V, the first pope of the Avignon Papacy.

He was born in Château Lamothe, Ancient Diocese of Bazas to the "ancient and noble" house of de la Mothe Pellegrue, a relative of Clement V. His first name is sometimes given as Arnaldo in Italian sources, and his last name varies as Pelagura, Pelaugrue, or Pelagrua as well.

He was elevated as cardinal deacon of S. Maria in Portico on December 15, 1305. He was also the archdeacon of the cathedral chapter of Chartres, France, where he built two chapels: one dedicated to Saint Jérôme, and the other to Saint Christoph. In 1295, he became vicar general of Clement V in Comminges, and later became vicar general in Bordeaux.

As papal legate to Italy, Pellegrue was absent from Avignon between January 25, 1309 and December 10, 1310. Pellegrue led the papal army after Clement V declared war on Venice in 1309 over the disputed lordship of the strategic city of Ferrara, in which Francesco d'Este and his brothers opposed the succession as signore of Ferrara of their great-nephew Folco in 1308 and turned to Padua and the papacy for support.