# Thomas Fleming (bishop) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Fleming_(bishop) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Fleming_(bishop).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fleming_(bishop) > Source revision: 1346626175 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Irish Franciscan and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Thomas Fleming" bishop – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Thomas Fleming** (1593–1665) was an Irish [Franciscan](/source/Franciscan) and [Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archbishop_of_Dublin); he was entitled to hold the title Baron Slane, but renounced it. He was the eldest son of Christopher Fleming, 12th [Baron Slane](/source/Baron_Slane) and Eleanor, daughter of [Patrick Barnewall](/source/Patrick_Barnewall_(died_1622)) and Mary Bagenal. On his father's death in 1625 he succeeded as 13th Baron, but renounced the title in favour of his brother William, 14th Baron. He studied at the Franciscan College at [Leuven](/source/Leuven), became a priest of the Franciscan Order, and after finishing his studies continued at the [Catholic University of Leuven](/source/Old_University_of_Leuven) for a number of years as a professor. In October 1623, he was appointed by [Pope Urban VIII](/source/Pope_Urban_VIII) to the See of Dublin as successor of [Eugene Matthews](/source/Eugene_Matthews_(bishop)). His appointment gave great offence to opponents of the [religious orders](/source/Religious_orders), and a bitter onslaught was begun against the new archbishop by the priest [Paul Harris](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Harris_(priest)&action=edit&redlink=1), in his *Olfactorium* and other brochures. Archbishop Fleming convened and presided at a provincial synod of the province of Dublin in 1640. Strafford, the all-powerful [Lord Deputy of Ireland](/source/Lord_Deputy_of_Ireland), had no sympathy for Irish Catholics, but did not favour religious persecution. Like the Duke of Ormonde later he was prepared to tacitly recognise the Catholic hierarchy, and even granted Fleming a personal audience, although he described him afterwards in rather unflattering terms. When the [Irish Rebellion of 1641](/source/Irish_Rebellion_of_1641) broke out (1641–1642) the archbishop, though by inclination a man of peace, felt constrained to take sides with the Confederates and despatched a procurator to represent him at the synod of the clergy held in [Kilkenny](/source/Kilkenny) (May 1642). Later on, when the general assembly was convoked at Kilkenny for October, the archbishop resolved to attend personally and take part in the deliberations. As might be expected from his antecedents, and especially from his connection with the [Anglo-Irish](/source/Anglo-Irish) nobility of the [Pale](/source/English_Pale), he was opposed to the "thorough" policy of the Old Irish, and wished for peace at all costs. In 1643 he was one of the prelates who signed the commission empowering representatives of the Confederates to treat with [James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde](/source/James_Butler%2C_1st_Duke_of_Ormonde) for a cessation of hostilities. He also opposed [Pierfrancesco Scarampi](/source/Pierfrancesco_Scarampi) and [Giovanni Battista Rinuccini](/source/Giovanni_Battista_Rinuccini), the latter of whom was strongly identified with the Old-Irish party. In 1649, when all was lost, and the defeated Irish were confronted with [Oliver Cromwell](/source/Oliver_Cromwell), a reconciliation was effected with Ormonde at a synod of bishops, a step which Archbishop Fleming favoured. But even then King [Charles I](/source/Charles_I_of_England) could not recognize his real friends, and the alliance was broken off. The remainder of the archbishop's life was much disturbed by religious persecution carried on by the government of Cromwell.[*[further explanation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] He died in 1665. Until 1669 no successor could be appointed. The diocese was administered by vicars until the nomination of [Archbishop Peter Talbot](/source/Archbishop_Peter_Talbot) in 1669. In appearance, he was described unkindly by [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](/source/Thomas_Wentworth%2C_1st_Earl_of_Strafford) as a fat, red-faced man, dressed in a plain black suit, who looked more than a merchant selling cloth at [Leadenhall Market](/source/Leadenhall_Market) than a bishop.[1] Catholic Church titles Preceded by Eugene Matthews Archbishop of Dublin 1623–1665 Succeeded by James Dempsey (vicar apostolic) Peerage of Ireland Preceded by Christopher Fleming Baron Slane 1625 Succeeded by William Fleming ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Wedgwood, C. V. *Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford* Jonathan Cape London 1961 ## External links This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "[Thomas Fleming](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Thomas_Fleming)". *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company. v t e Roman Catholic Archbishops of Dublin Donald Mateo de Oviedo Eugene Matthews Thomas Fleming James Dempsey Richard Butler Peter Talbot Patrick Russell Peter Creagh Edmund Byrne Edward Murphy Luke Fagan 'John Linegar Richard Lincoln Patrick Fitzsimons John Carpenter John Troy Daniel Murray Paul, Cardinal Cullen Edward, Cardinal MacCabe William Walsh Edward Byrne John Charles McQuaid Dermot Ryan Kevin McNamara Desmond, Cardinal Connell Diarmuid Martin Dermot Farrell Catholicism portal Authority control databases International VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States People Ireland Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Fleming (bishop)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fleming_(bishop)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fleming_(bishop)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.