Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 122 note 1. Bullarum, diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum romanorum pontificum Taurinensis editioTomus XX (Turin: A. Vecco 1870), pp. 791-799. Jules Gallerand, "L'érection de l'évêché de Blois (1697)", Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France 42 (1956), 175-228.
Berthier was a native of the diocese of Vabres. He held a licenciate in theology (Paris), and was Vicar General of Chartres, and Abbot of Belleperche (1674–1719). He was nominated first bishop of Blois by Louis XIV on 22 March 1693. He was consecrated bishop by the Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris, on 15 September 1697. His solemn entry into Blois and his enthronement took place on 26 June 1698. Claude de Vic; Joseph Vaissete; Ernest Roschach (1872). Histoire générale de Languedoc (in French). Vol. Tome IV. Toulouse: E. Privat. p. 629. Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1344. Jean, p. 293. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 22 note 2.
Caumartin had previously been Dean of Tours, and when the See fell vacant he acted as Vicar General. He was then named Bishop of Vannes (1718–1720). He died on 30 August 1733. Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1344-1345. Jean, pp. 293-294. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 22 note 3; 408 with note 5; VI, p. 125. Jules Gallerand (1998). Jean-François Lefèvre de Caumartin (1720-1733): deuxième évêque de Blois (in French). Blois: Association pour le Tricentenaire du diocèse de Blois. ISBN978-2-911980-03-9.
Born in Aouste (Drôme) in 1794, Fabre-des-Essarts had been Vicar General of Bishop Sausin for sixteen years. He received papal approval on 17 June 1844, and was consecrated in Blois on 25 July by Bishop Alexandre Devie of Belley. He built an orphanage and installed the Jesuits in the major seminary. He died in Blois on 20 October 1850. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 139-140. M. A. Des Essarts (1890). Monseigneur Marie-Auguste Fabre des Essarts, évêque de Blois (in French). Paris-Auteuil: Imp. des Apprentis-Orphelins.
Laborde was born at Saint-Nazaire in 1826, and completed his clerical studies at Saint-Sulpice in Paris. He was Vicar General of the Bishop of Nantes, and served in the Franco-Prussian War. He was nominated Bishop of Blois on 9 June 1877, and preconised (approved) by Pope Pius IX on 25 June. He was consecrated a bishop on 24 August in Nantes at S. Symphorien, where he had been parish priest, by Archbishop Charles Colet of Tours. He died on 18 May 1907. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 140-141. Eglise à Lyon (in French). Lyon: Archevêché de Lyon. 1907. p. 718. Frédéric Boulliau (1907). Mgr Laborde, évêque de Blois: 1826-1907 (in French). Blois: Impr. C. Migault.
Mélisson was born in Parigné-l'Eveque (Sarthe) in 1842. He had been director of the major seminary in Le Mans, and was Archpriest of the Cathedral of Le Mans. He was preconised (approved) on 10 October 1907 by Pope Pius X. He resigned on 9 February 1925 to return to Le Mans. He died in 1927. Almanach catholique français (in French). Paris: Bloud & Gay. 1920. p. 75.
catholique-blois.net
Bishop Batut holds a doctorate in the history of religions (Sorbonne), and a doctorate in theology (Institut Catholique, Paris). From 2009 to 2014 Bishop Batut had been Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon. Diocèse de Blois, Mgr Batut, retrieved: 2017-05-12.