Raoul Roussel

Raoul Roussel (1389-1452) was a French churchman, who played a part in the trial of Joan of Arc in 1431 [ [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/joanofarc-trial.html Transcript] ] , and was archbishop of Rouen from 1443 to 1452 [ [http://www.visite-de-rouen.com/eveques.htm Evêques de Rouen du 3ème siècle à 2008 ] ] .

He was born at Saultchevreuil in the diocese of Coutances, and became a doctor of canon law in 1416. [ [http://www.jeanne-darc.dk/p_references/p_biography/p_partisan_english/raoul_roussel.html [Jeanne d'Arc>>Partisan>English ] ] At the time of the trial he was Treasurer to Rouen Cathedral [Daniel Hobbins, "The Trial of Joan of Arc" (2005), p. 115.] .

He was an advisor both to the English king, who employed him on numerous missions [ [http://www.stjoan-center.com/misconceptions/english_documents.html English Records ] ] , and later to the Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset [Bernard Guenée, "Between Church and State: The Lives of Four French Prelates in the Late Middle Ages" (1991 translation), p. 307.] . When Rouen, in the hands of the English and Somerset, surrendered to Charles VII of France in 1449, Roussel had influence in the negotiations, and received the French king into the city [R. A. Griffiths, "The Reign of King Henry VI" (1981), p. 517.] .

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