Pierre Cauchon

Cauchon, drawing of his tomb sculpture, 15th century, by Roger de Gaignieres; in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

Pierre Cauchon,  (born 1371, near Reims, Fr.—died Dec. 18, 1442Rouen), French bishop of Beauvais, an ecclesiastic memorable chiefly because he presided over the trial of Joan of Arc.

Cauchon was educated at the University of Paris, of which he became rector in 1403. He became associated with the Burgundian party and took part in the riots of the Cabochiens (radical reformers) during 1413. He was subsequently banished from Paris in 1414, taking service with John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, thereafter. He became bishop of Beauvais in 1420. In 1422 Cauchon, as a counselor of Henry VI of England, became a servant of the king’s regent in France, John Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford. Cauchon aided the Anglo-Burgundian alliance in gaining control of much of northern France from the French king. An excellent opportunity to serve the English arose when Joan of Arc was captured in Cauchon’s diocese in 1430. Cauchon was careful to disguise the political motivations of Joan’s trial by conducting it according to inquisitorial procedure and by attempting to obtain from Joan a confession that would save her life. He is held formally responsible for her condemnation and subsequent execution as a heretic. Cauchon became bishop of Lisieux in 1432.