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The former French diocese of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux existed from the sixth century to the French Revolution. Its see was at Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, in the modern department of Drôme, southern France. Its territory was included in the expanded diocese of Valence, by the Concordat of 1801.
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History
According to a legend of the fifteenth century, St. Restitutus, first Bishop of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, was the man born blind, mentioned in the Gospel. Local traditions also make Sts. Eusebuis, Torquatus, Paulus, Amantius, Sulpicius, Bonifatius, Castorinus, and Michael early bishops of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. Of those, Louis Duchesne regards St. Paulus (fourth or sixth century), patron of the city, as the only known bishop.
Owing to Saracen ravages (827-29) the Church of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, by Decree of Gregory IV, was united with the Church of Orange until the end of the eleventh century, when the Diocese of Orange was re-established.
The Diocese of St-Paul-Trois-Châteaux was always dependent on the archdiocese of Arles. Among its bishops were Heraclius (525-42), correspondent of St. Avitus; Saint Martin des Ormeaux (seventh century), who became a solitary.
1600 to 1800
Additional reading
The Making of the French Episcopate, 1589-1661 By Joseph Bergin