Thomas II of York

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Thomas II of York
Archbishop of York
Enthroned {{{began}}}
Ended February 24, 1114
Predecessor Gerard
Successor Thurstan
Consecration June 27, 1109
Birth name Thomas
Died February 24, 1114
Beverley
Buried York Minster
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Thomas (died February 24, 1114), was a medieval archbishop of York. To distinguish him from his uncle, also a Thomas who was archbishop of York, Thomas is usually known as Thomas II or Thomas the Younger.

[edit] Life

He was the nephew of Thomas I of York, archbishop of York,[1] and the son of the elder Thomas' brother Samson, Bishop of Worcester. He was a royal chaplain, and then provost of Beverley in 1092, both appointments he owed to his uncle.[2] He was raised in the cathedral chapter at York, and the clergy of York trusted him,[3] and he proved himself devoted to York's cause against the primacy of Canterbury.[4] Thomas' brother Richard became Bishop of Bayeux in about 1108 until Richard's death in 1133.[5] Thomas and Richard's sister, Isabelle of Douvres, was the mistress of Robert of Gloucester, and their son Richard was Bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142.[6]

The younger Thomas became archbishop May of 1108[7] at the request of the dean and cathedral chapter of York.[1] Like his uncle he refused to promise obedience to the archbishop of Canterbury; his consecration was then delayed. Thomas said that the chapter would not allow him to make a written profession, and the chapter wrote as a body to Archbishop Anselm confirming this. Meanwhile, the dean of York went to Rome to procure the pallium for Thomas, which was sent with a papal legate. The dispute was still unsettled when Anselm died in April of 1109.[3] Anselm had told the bishops before his death that he felt that Thomas must make a profession of obedience, and obediently the bishops appealed to the king's court to make Thomas do so. Henry I and his bishops then decided against Thomas, who was forced to make the necessary promise[8] and was consecrated in London on June 27, 1109[7] by Richard de Beaumis, bishop of London.[1] He received his pallium from Cardinal Ulrich, the legate, on August 1, 1109.[3]

He worked to extend York's metropolitan authority over Scotland, and consecrated Michael of Glasgow as Bishop of Glasgow. Michael made a written profession of obedience to York before his consecration.[2] Thomas also consecrated Thurgot as Bishop of St Andrews, although Thurgot seems to have managed to insert a reservation of his rights into his oath.[9] Other Scottish bishops he consecrated were Radulf Novell as Bishop of Orkney and Wimund to as Bishop of Man and the Isles.[2]

In his own diocese he founded the Hospital of St. John the Baptist at Ripon.[10] He also created more prebends in his diocese, extending the work of his two predecessors in introducing the Norman system of ecclesiastical government. He is said have only been stopped from approrpiating the relics of Saint Eata by a vision of the saint. He also endowed the Augustinian priory of Hexham with lands and books.[2]

He died at Beverley on February 24, 1114.[1] He was noted for his chastity, but equally noted for his gluttony, and died of overeating.[11] Thomas was buried in York Minster near his uncle. Hugh the Chantor relates the story that Thomas one time when ill was told by his doctors that he would only be cured by intercourse with a young girl. Some of Thomas' friends then attempted to introduce a young woman into his household, but Thomas instead prayed to St. John of Beverley and recovered.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d British History Online Archbishops of York accessed on September 14, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e Burton "Thomas (d. 1114)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography' Online Edition accessed November 11, 2007
  3. ^ a b c Vaughn Anselm of Bec and Robert of Meulan p. 336-357
  4. ^ Barlow, Frank, The English Chruch 1066-1154 p. 43
  5. ^ Barlow The English Church 1066-1154 p. 58
  6. ^ Spear "The Norman Empire and the Secular Clergy" Journal of British Studies p. 5
  7. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 281
  8. ^ Cantor Church, Kingship, and Lay Investiture p. 300-301
  9. ^ Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings p. 94
  10. ^ British History Online Victoria County History of York accessed on September 14, 2007
  11. ^ Barlow The English Church 1066-1154 p. 82

[edit] References

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Gerard		 Archbishop of York
1109–1114		 Succeeded by
Thurstan

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Persondata
NAME Thomas II of York
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Archbishop of York
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH February 24, 1114
PLACE OF DEATH Beverley