Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of maps
- List of tables
- Preface
- Editorial note
- List of abbreviations
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 ELECTORAL THEORY
- 3 ELECTORAL PRACTICE: NORMANDY
- 4 ELECTORAL PRACTICE: GREATER ANJOU
- 5 THE EPISCOPACY IN NORMANDY AND GREATER ANJOU
- 6 THE IMPACT OF THE CAPETIAN CONQUEST OF 1204/6
- 7 CONCLUSION
- APPENDICES
- Bibliography
- Index
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought Fourth Series
3 - ELECTORAL PRACTICE: NORMANDY
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of maps
- List of tables
- Preface
- Editorial note
- List of abbreviations
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 ELECTORAL THEORY
- 3 ELECTORAL PRACTICE: NORMANDY
- 4 ELECTORAL PRACTICE: GREATER ANJOU
- 5 THE EPISCOPACY IN NORMANDY AND GREATER ANJOU
- 6 THE IMPACT OF THE CAPETIAN CONQUEST OF 1204/6
- 7 CONCLUSION
- APPENDICES
- Bibliography
- Index
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought Fourth Series
Summary
The geographical limits of the duchy of Normandy coincided almost exactly with those of the ecclesiastical province of Rouen. The dioceses of Rouen and Sées extended beyond the Norman frontier, but the other five dioceses of Evreux, Bayeux, Lisieux, Coutances, and Avranches were situated within the borders of the duchy. The duke was by far the most important lord in the duchy and his control over the Norman church, including episcopal elections, was undisputed by the time of Henry I's death in 1135. The election of Richard, a natural son of Robert, earl of Gloucester, and thus a grandson of Henry I, to the see of Bayeux in 1133–5 illustrates this very clearly. Possibly on Robert's initiative, Henry I brought about Richard's election, but Hugh, archbishop of Rouen, refused to consecrate the candidate, probably on the grounds of Richard's illegitimacy. Henry I then turned to Pope Innocent II, pressing him to order Hugh to comply with his will. Unwilling to risk a breach with Henry over this question, Innocent complied and Hugh consecrated Richard. In the course of the dispute neither Hugh nor the pope questioned Henry's role in the electoral process. After Henry I's death, however, the struggle for succession between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda shook the political landscape in Normandy. While ducal authority weakened, other political forces, notably the aristocracy, increased their power.
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- Information
- Canon Law, Careers and ConquestEpiscopal Elections in Normandy and Greater Anjou, c.1140–c.1230, pp. 73 - 169Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007