Champion de Cicé, Jérôme

(1735-1810)

   prelate, political figure

   Born in Rennes, Jérôme Champion de Cicé was made archbishop of bordeaux in 1781 and, in 1789, was elected to represent the clergy at the estates general. He was one of the first to rally to the Third Estate. Named keeper of the seals (August 3, 1789), he gained a certain popularity because he convinced louis XVI to ratify the civil constitution of the clergy (July-August 1790). However, the ministry to which he belonged was accused, on several occasions, of favoring counterrevolution, and in November 1790, Champion de Cicé resigned and emigrated. On his return to France, he was named archbishop of Aix shortly after the signing of the Concordat (1802); see revolution of 1789.