Geoffrey, Archbishop of York

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Geoffrey, Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
Enthroned {{{began}}}
Ended December 12, 1212
Predecessor Roger de Pont L'Evêque
Successor Walter de Gray
Consecration August 10, 1189
Born about 1152
Died December 12, 1212
Grandmont, Normandy
Buried Grandmont
Christianity Portal

Geoffrey, Archbishop of York (c. 1152 – 12 December 1212) was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. Geoffrey's history is chiefly one of quarrels, with the see of Canterbury, with the chancellor William Longchamp, with his half-brothers Richard and John, and especially with his canons at York.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Geoffrey's father Henry II, from Cassell's History of England circa 1902.
Geoffrey's father Henry II, from Cassell's History of England circa 1902.

He was distinguished from his legitimate half-brothers by his consistent attachment and fidelity to his father.[1] His mother was Ykenai, whom Walter Map described as 'a base-born, common harlot who stooped to all uncleanness'[cite this quote]. He was probably born before his father married Eleanor of Aquitaine,[2] sometime around 1152.[3]

He was Archdeacon of Lincoln by September of 1171, and probably retained the archdeaconry until he was confirmed as bishop-elect in 1175.[4] He was made Bishop of Lincoln at the age of twenty-one about May of 1173; he at first was refused confirmation by Pope Alexander III and Archbishop Thomas Becket, and went to Rome in October of 1174 to secure confirmation, which happened before July of 1175. He was never ordained, however.[5] In 1173 and early 1174 he fought a campaign in northern England that supported his father's attempts to subdue the Scots. The campaign helped in the capture of William the Lion, king of Scots and also helped to compel Hugh du Puiset, Bishop of Durham to pledge fealty to Henry I.[6] It was after this campaign that Henry is said to have told Geoffrey "My other sons are the real bastards. This is the only one who's proved himself legitimate!"[7] He then was confrimed as bishop by Alexander and Becket, and was sent to study at Tours. It was during this period that he probably befriended Peter of Blois. He made a number of gifts to the cathedral at Lincoln, including two bells for the bell tower.[6]

[edit] Chancellor

Richard I of England and Philip II of France, from a 14th century illuminated manuscript.
Richard I of England and Philip II of France, from a 14th century illuminated manuscript.

He resigned the see of Lincoln on January 6, 1182,[8] rather than be ordained as the pope had ordered.[6] He then became his father's chancellor in 1181 and 1182,[9] holding a large number of lucrative benefices in plurality, including Treasurer of York from 1182, the Archdeaconry of Rouen from 1183,[10] and probably the Archdeaconry of East Riding.[11] When Prince Richard and King Philip II of France declared war on Henry in 1187, Henry gave Geoffrey command of a quarter of the army. Geoffrey was with Henry when the king was driven from Le Mans in 1189,[6] and Geoffrey was the one son of Henry II's that was present at the death of the king.[12]

[edit] Archbishop

King Richard nominated him archbishop of York in September of 1189,[3] but he was not consecrated until August 18, 1191,[13] at Tours, when he received his pallium.[3] However, on his election, he either resigned or was stripped of his office of chancellor.[9] After Richard took the throne of England, Geoffrey was made to become a full priest, to eliminate a potential rival to the throne.[14] He was consecrated a priest at Southwell on September 23, 1189.[3] In 1191, after being consecrated archbishop, he attempted to go to York, but was met at Dover by agents of the chancellor, William Longchamp, and even though he took refuge in the priory of St. Martin in Dover, was dragged from sanctuary and imprisoned in Dover Castle.[15] Longchamp claimed that Geoffrey had not sworn fealty to Richard, but it was more likely just an excuse to eliminate a rival.[12] He was soon released, and took part in the council at Loddon Bridge between Reading and Windsor which excommunicated Longchamp and led to the deposition of Longchamp from the chancellorship.[16] It was during this time that Geoffrey started his feud with Hugh du Puiset, probably over Geoffrey's authority in Hugh's diocese of Durham. The feud dragged on for years, with many appeals to Rome and the king.[6]

Geoffrey long faced opposition from part of his cathedral chapter, with the opposition led by Henry Marshal, who was dean of York, Burchard du Puiset, who was Hugh du Puiset's nephew and treasurer of York, and Roger of London who was abbot of Selby. The chapter objected to Geoffrey having given a large part of York's treasury towards Richard's ransom, and to some of Geoffrey's appointments in the church of York. Charges of simony, extortion, and neglect of his duties were lodged against Geoffrey, who in return excommunicated the ringleaders more than once, and locked the canons out of church.[6]

In 1194 he went into debt to the crown for the sum of 3000 marks in order to buy the office of Sheriff of Yorkshire.[17] He quarrelled with Richard in 1196 and Richard forbade Geoffrey from administering York.[18] In 1200 he refused to allow the collection of carucage on his property, and was in return forced to submit to the new sheriff of Yorkshire, James de Poterna, who had wasted the lands in revenge. In January of 1201, John then made peace with his half brother.[19] In 1207, Geoffrey led the clergy in their refusal to be taxed by John and was forced to flee the kingdom.[20] He died while still in exile at Grandmont in Normandy on December 12, 1212.[13][3] He was buried at Notre-Dame de Grandmont.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings p. 57
  2. ^ Warren Henry II p. 78 note
  3. ^ a b c d e f British History Online Archbishops of York accessed on September 15, 2007
  4. ^ British History Online Archdeacons of Lincoln accessed on September 15, 2007
  5. ^ British History Online Bishops of Lincoln accessed on September 15, 2007
  6. ^ a b c d e f Lovatt "Geoffrey (1151?–1212)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online Edition revision of October 2007 accessed November 12, 2007
  7. ^ quoted in Lovatt "Geoffrey (1151?–1212)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online Edition revision of October 2007 accessed November 12, 2007
  8. ^ Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 255
  9. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 84
  10. ^ British History Online Treasurers of York accessed on September 15, 2007
  11. ^ British History Online Prebends of York accessed on September 15, 2007
  12. ^ a b Lyon A Constitutional and Legal History of Medieval England p. 233-236
  13. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 281
  14. ^ Warren King John p. 39
  15. ^ Warren King John p. 42
  16. ^ Powell The House of Lords p. 98-99
  17. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 270
  18. ^ Lyon A Constitutional and Legal History of Medieval England p. 305-306
  19. ^ Joliffe Angevin Kingship p.114-115
  20. ^ Warren King John p. 149

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Ralph de Warneville		 Lord Chancellor
1181–1189		 Succeeded by
William Longchamp
Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Robert de Chesney		 Bishop of Lincoln
1173-1183		 Succeeded by
Walter de Coutances
Preceded by
Roger de Pont L'Evêque		 Archbishop of York
1181–1212		 Succeeded by
Simon Langton
Persondata
NAME Geoffrey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Plantagenet, Geoffrey
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Lincoln; Lord Chancellor; Archbishop of York
DATE OF BIRTH about 1142
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH December 12, 1212
PLACE OF DEATH Normandy
Languages