Thierry Larchier d'Hirson or d'Hireçon, or de Hérisson, (1270 in

Bourbonnais The Bourbonnais (; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Borbonés'') was a Provinces of France, historic province in the centre of France that corresponds to the modern ''département in France, département'' of Allier, along with part of the ''dépar ...

– 23 August 1328) was a French

cleric Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

under

Robert II, Count of Artois Robert II (September 1250 – 11 July 1302) was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant. He was a nephew of two kings; Louis IX of France and Charles I of Sicily. A capable military commander and ad ...

Biography

Hirson was employed by

Philip IV of France Philip IV (April–June 1268 – 29 November 1314), called Philip the Fair (), was King of France from 1285 to 1314. Jure uxoris, By virtue of his marriage with Joan I of Navarre, he was also King of Navarre and Count of Champagne as Philip&n ...

on several occasions, and became a

canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...

Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...

in 1299. He was named chancellor of

Mahaut, Countess of Artois Mahaut of Artois also known as Mathilda (1268 27 November 1329), ruled as Countess of Artois from 1302 to 1329. She was furthermore regent of the County of Burgundy from 1303 to 1315 during the minority and the absence of her daughter, Joan II, ...

in 1303, and '' prévôte'' of

Aire-sur-la-Lys Aire-sur-la-Lys (; ; literally "Aire on the Lys (river), Lys") is a Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department in northern France. Geography The commune is located 16 kilometres (10 mi) southeast of ...

in 1309. Hirson wielded considerable power in

Artois Artois ( , ; ; Picard: ''Artoé;'' English adjective: ''Artesian'') is a region of northern France. Its territory covers an area of about 4,000 km2 and it has a population of about one million. Its principal cities include Arras (Dutch: ...

for most of Mahaut's reign. Hirson founded the '' Chartreuse du Val-Saint-Esprit'' (Val-Saint-Esprit Charterhouse), a

Carthusian The Carthusians, also known as the Order of Carthusians (), are a Latin enclosed religious order of the Catholic Church. The order was founded by Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. The order has its own rule, called th ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

, in 1320. He was appointed

Bishop of Arras The Diocese of Arras (–Boulogne–Saint-Omer) (Latin: ''Dioecesis Atrebatensis (–Bononiena–Audomarensis)''; French: ''Diocèse d'Arras (–Boulogne–Saint-Omer)'') is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The episcopal s ...

in April 1328, and died on 23 August 1328. Hirson was romantically involved with

Jeanne de Divion Jeanne de Divion (c. 1293 – 6 October 1331) was a French forger. Jeanne was the daughter of the impoverished noble Havet de Divion and Sara Louchard, and married the knight Pierre de Broyes. She was known for her knowledge of astrology, and m ...

, wife of the knight Pierre de Broyes. She was known for her knowledge of astrology, and made a scandal by living openly with Hirson. When he died, he left Jeanne 3000 livres. The executor of his will, Countess Mahaut of Artois, paid the inheritance, but later challenged it as being based on an adulterous liaison with a bishop, and obtained the restitution. In revenge, Jeanne created forged documents which Mahaut's nephew,

Robert III of Artois Robert III of Artois (1287 – between 6 October & 20 November 1342) was a French nobleman of the House of Artois. He was the Lord of Conches-en-Ouche, of Château de Domfront, Domfront, and of Mehun-sur-Yèvre, and in 1309 he received as appan ...

, used in 1331 to attest to the will of his father as a means to reclaim the

County of Artois The County of Artois (, , ) was a historic province of the Kingdom of France, held by the Dukes of Burgundy from 1384 until 1477/82, and a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1493 until 1659. Present-day Artois lies in northern France, near ...

from Mahaut. This deception was discovered, and Jeanne was condemned and burned at the stake for forgery on 6 October 1331.

Family

Hirson's niece

Béatrice d'Hirson Béatrice d'Hirson (fl. 14th century) was a lady-in-waiting to the French noblewoman Mahaut, Countess of Artois. In fiction Although an obscure historical figure, Béatrice is an important character in Maurice Druon's series of French historical n ...

was a

lady-in-waiting A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...

to Mahaut, Countess of Artois, as was her sister Mathilde. His brothers were as follows: * Denis d'Hirson, treasurer to the Countess of Artois, then lord of Arras * Guillaume d'Hirson,

bailiff A bailiff is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. There are different kinds, and their offices and scope of duties vary. Another official sometimes referred to as a '' ...

of Arras * Pierre d'Hirson, attendant to the Countess of Artois

In fiction

The dispute between Robert and Mahaut plays an important part in

Maurice Druon Maurice Druon (; 23 April 1918 – 14 April 2009) was a French novelist and a member of the Académie Française, of which he served as "Perpetual Secretary" (chairman) between 1985 and 1999. Life and career Born in Paris, France, Druon was the ...

's series of French

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

s, ''

Les Rois maudits ''The Accursed Kings'' ( ) is a series of seven historical novels by French author Maurice Druon about the French monarchy in the 14th century. Published between 1955 and 1977, the series has been adapted as a miniseries twice for television in ...

'' (''The Accursed Kings)''. Hirson was played by in the 1972 French miniseries adaptation of the series. Although an obscure historical figure, Béatrice is also an important character in ''Les Rois maudits''. In the novels, she practices

witchcraft Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...

and is adept with poisons. She helps her mistress Mahaut poison two French kings, and eventually poisons Mahaut herself. Béatrice was played by

Catherine Rouvel Catherine Rouvel (born Catherine Vitale; 31 August 1939 in Marseille) is an acclaimed French actress. Her career spans from 1959 in television to 2004. At 14, she took dance classes, which she abandoned in favor of theater. She made her debut wi ...

in the 1972 miniseries, and by

Jeanne Balibar Jeanne Balibar (born 13 April 1968) is a French actress and singer. Life and career Balibar was born in Paris, the daughter of Marxist philosopher Étienne Balibar and physicist Françoise Balibar. She started her career as a student in th ...

in a 2005 adaptation.

References

1270 births 1328 deaths Bishops of Arras {{france-bishop-stub