Leofgar of Hereford

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Leofgar
Denomination Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Hereford
Title Bishop of Hereford
Period in office 1056
Predecessor Athelstan II
Successor Aldred
Personal
Date of death June 16, 1056
For the early 11th century bishop of Lichfield, see Leofgar.

Leofgar (or Leovegard) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford.

He was consecrated in March 1056.[1] He had previously been the chaplain to Harold Godwineson,[2] and it was probably Harold who persuaded King Edward the Confessor to appoint him to the bishopric. The appointment was disapproved of by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, mainly for the warlike character of Leofgar. However, because of the Welsh raids, and the damage the diocese had taken in the previous year, it was felt that a more martial man was needed to help protect the area.[3] Significantly, while a bishop he retained his mustache, a symbol of a warrior.[4]

He was killed by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn[5] on June 16, 1056[1] at Glasbury-on-Wye during a battle with the Welsh.[3] Along with Leofgar, a large number of English were killed, which set back the English efforts to pacify the Welsh frontier.[6][7] After Leofgar's death, the diocese of Hereford was administered by Aldred, who was Bishop of Worcester, until Walter of Lorraine was elected in 1060.[8]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 217
  2. ^ Walker Harold p. 70
  3. ^ a b Walker Harold p. 80-81
  4. ^ Walker Harold p. 120
  5. ^ Walker Harold p. 68
  6. ^ Barlow Edward the Confessor p. 207-208
  7. ^ Mason House of Godwine p. 90-91
  8. ^ Mason House of Godwine p. 96

[edit] References

  • Barlow, Frank (1970). Edward the Confessor. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-01671-8. 
  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, Third Edition, revised, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. 
  • Mason, Emma (2004). House of Godwine: The History of Dynasty. London: Hambledon & London. ISBN 1-85285-389-1. 
  • Walker, Ian (2000). Harold the Last Anglo-Saxon King. Gloucestershire: Wrens Park. ISBN 0-905-778-464. 
Religious titles
Preceded by
Athelstan II		 Bishop of Hereford
1056		 Succeeded by
Aldred
Persondata
NAME Leofgar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Leovegard
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Hereford
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH June 16, 1056
PLACE OF DEATH
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