He was born in the
Château de Bouthéon in the
Forez. After studying in Avignon he entered Saint-André Abbey in
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, becoming its abbot. In 1443 he was elected bishop of
Puy, rebuilding its episcopal palace, restoring the episcopal castle in
Monistrol, building a keep at
Yssingeaux and rebuilding the church at
Lavoûte-Chilhac. He was elected archbishop of Lyon in 1444 by its chapter, but
Charles VII of France opposed the election, as he did not want the post filled by a brother of
Charles of Bourbon (one of the participants in 1441-1442's
Praguerie). Jean thus resigned in favour of his young nephew
Charles), then aged 11. The king and pope refused to approve this election and nominated
Geoffroy de Vassali, then archbishop of Vienne. On Geoffroy's death in 1446, Charles of Bourbon made Jean administrator of the diocese of Lyon from 1449 to 1466. He was also
commendatory abbot of Cluny from 1456 to 1480 and remained its permanent administrator until his death. He was known for restoring and embellishing its abbey, particularly with two new buildings - an abbot's palace (now housing the
Ochier Museum and a private chapel Some authors state that he and not his successor abbot
Jacques d'Amboise was the founder of the
Hôtel de Cluny in Paris. In 1465 he took part in the
League of the Public Good alongside his nephew
John II. John II made him lieutenant general of Languedoc in 1466, though
Louis XI dismissed him from that post in 1474, so John II instead made him lieutenant general of Forez. He resumed his post as lieutenant general of Languedoc in 1484. In 1468 his nephew Charles, as abbot of the
abbey of Île-Barbe, made him prior of
Saint-Rambert-en-Forez, halfway between Cluny and
Puy-en-Velay. From then on Jean made that priory his main residence, allowing him to combine his roles as bishop in the Velay, abbot in Burgundy and lieutenant general of Forez. Around 1482 he succeeded his nephew
Renaud de Bourbon as prior of
Montverdun on the latter's death. He died at Saint-Rambert and was buried in the chapel named after him in Cluny. ==References==