Simon Langton (archbishop)

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Simon Langton
Archbishop of York
Enthroned {{{began}}}
Ended August 1215
Election quashed
Predecessor Geoffrey Plantagenet
Successor Walter de Gray
Consecration never consecrated
Died 1248
Christianity Portal
For others of the same name, see Simon Langton.

Simon Langton was an English medieval ecclesiatic and Archbishop of York elect.

[edit] Life

Simon held the prebend of Strensall in the diocese of York by November 20, 1214. He was the brother of Stephen Langton, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1207.[1] A third brother Walter was a layman, and when he died childless in 1234, Simon was left with the lands and debts. Simon probably studied at Paris, where his brother was a noted instructor.[2] Simon was employed by his brother in the negotiations with King John in 1210, when Simon told John that Stephen Langton would not lift the interdict unless John put himself "wholly in his mercy."[3] He had also appeared at the 1208 Winchester council to present the papal demands to allow Stephen Langton into the see of Canterbury.[4]

Simon was elected in June of 1215 to fill the Archbishopric of York.[1] King John had wanted the selection of Walter de Gray, John's Chancellor and Bishop of Worcester. However, the canons of York felt that Walter was uneducated, and selected Simon instead. John objected, and wrote to Pope Innocent III complaining of the election of the brother of one of his staunchest enemies, and Innocent agreed.[5] Simon had previously been forbidden to seek the office,[2] and accordingly Simon's election was quashed on August 20, 1215 by the pope.[6] Simon then proceeded to join Prince Louis of France's invasion of England in 1215, and acted as Louis' chancellor, against the express wishes of the pope.[2] Because of this, in 1216 he was excommunicated, and deprived of all benefices,[7] He was eventually absolved, and made an official of the papal court and allowed to hold a prebend in France.[2]

On May 14, 1227 he was appointed Archdeacon of Canterbury, and held that office until his death in 1248.[8] In January of 1235 he was employed by King Henry III of England to negotiate a renewal of the truce with France.[9] He also represented Archbishop Edmund Rich at Rome in a number of disputes. Besides the renewal of the peace treaty, Simon represented King Henry in many diplomatic missions. He was a patron to the Franciscans in England and left a library to the University of Paris.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b British History Online Archbishops of York accessed on September 15, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e Cazel "Langton, Simon (d. 1248)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online Edition accessed November 12, 2007
  3. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 446-447
  4. ^ Joliffe Angevin Kingship p. 168
  5. ^ Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings p. 406-407
  6. ^ Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 281
  7. ^ British History Online Prebendary of Strensall accessed on September 15, 2007
  8. ^ British History Online Archdeacons of Canterbury accessed on September 15, 2007
  9. ^ Powell The House of Lords p. 158

[edit] References

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Geoffrey Plantagenet		 Archbishop of York
Election quashed
1215		 Succeeded by
Walter de Gray
Persondata
NAME Langton, Simon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Archbishop of York elect; Archdeacon of Canterbury
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH 1248
PLACE OF DEATH