ALEXANDRE, NOEL (NATALIS ALEXANDER) (1639-1724), French theologian and ecclesiastical historian, born at Rouen, Jan. 19, 1639, was professor of philosophy at the con vent of Saint-Jacques in Paris. He became provincial of his order in 1706, but was banished to Chatellerault in 1709 for hav ing subscribed to the Cas de conscience (17o3) . He died in Paris, Aug. 21, 17 24.
The best known of his numerous works is the Selecta historiae ecclesiasticae capita, et in loco ejusdem insignia dissertationes historicae, chronologicae, dogmaticae (1676-86), which was placed on the Index by Innocent XI. on account of his bold defence of the Gallican claims.
See Catalogue complet des oeuvres du Pere Alexandre (1716) ; Quetif -Erhard, Scri pt ores ordinis praedicatorum (1719-21) , t. ii. p. 81o; and full bibliography in A. Vacant, Dict. de Theologie (scholarly article by P. Mandounet, cols. 769-772). Of the numerous editions of Alexandre's ecclesiastical history the best is that of P. J. D. Mansi, which contains many valuable notes and additions (Lucca, 1749) and has been frequently reprinted.