Antoine de Créqui Canaples

Biography

Antoine de Créqui Canaples was born in the Kingdom of France on July 17, 1531, the son of Jean de Créqui, seigneur of Canaples, and his wife Marie d'Acigné. After the death of his two brothers, he inherited his family's vast wealth; upon his death, he left this fortune to his sister's son Antoine de Blanchefort (the father of Charles de Blanchefort). In 1539, he was sent to Paris to be educated.

Créqui began his ecclesiastical career as a cleric in Thérouanne. He was designated Bishop of Thérouanne in 1553, but never occupied the see. He became Chancellor of the Order of Saint Michael and was a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit. He was also the Provost of the Premonstratensian Sélincourt Abbey.

In 1552, Henry II of France nominated him to be Bishop of Nantes. The cathedral chapter of Nantes Cathedral elected him Bishop of Nantes on December 15, 1553. He was subsequently ordained as a priest on the morning of April 22, 1554 by Gilles de Gaude, titular bishop of Rhaphanaea. Later that afternoon, he was then consecrated as a bishop by François de Laval, Bishop of Dol. On July 14, 1564, he was transferred to the Diocese of Amiens, exchanging his see with Cardinal Nicolas de Pellevé. He was a member of the French Conseil d'État under Charles IX of France.

Pope Pius IV made him a cardinal deacon in the consistory of March 12, 1565. He did not participate in the papal conclave of 1565-66 that elected Pope Pius V. On March 13, 1566, he received the red hat and the titular church of San Trifonio (a deaconry raised pro illa vice to the status of title). He did not participate in the papal conclave of 1572 that elected Pope Gregory XIII.

He died in Amiens on June 20, 1574. According to his will, he received heart burial, with his body being buried in the Benedictine Moreuil Abbey and his heart was buried in Amiens Cathedral.