| content | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denomination | Catholic |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Diocese of Winchester |
| Title | Bishop of Winchester |
| Period in office | 1100–1129 |
| Predecessor | Walkelin |
| Successor | Henry of Blois |
| Personal | |
| Date of death | January 25, 1129 |
William Giffard was the Lord Chancellor of England of William II and Henry I, from 1093 to 1101.[1] On August 3, 1100 he became bishop of Winchester[2] by nomination of Henry I. Henry nominated him probably in an attempt to win the support of the clergy in Henry's bid to claim the throne directly after the death of William Rufus.[3] He was one of the bishops elect whom Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury refused to consecrate in 1101 as having been nominated and invested by the lay power.
During the investitures dispute Giffard was on friendly terms with Anselm, and drew upon himself a sentence of banishment through declining to accept consecration from Gerard Archbishop of York in 1103. He was, however, one of the bishops who pressed Anselm, in 1106, to give way to the king. He was finally consecrated after the settlement of 1107 on August 11[2] and became a close friend of Archbishop Anselm.citation needed As bishop, Giffard aided the first Cistercians to settle in England, when in 1128 he brought monks from the French abbey of L'Aumone to settle at Waverly Abbey.[4] He also restored Winchester Cathedral with great magnificence.
Among his actions as bishop was the refounding of a religious house at Taunton and the staffing of it with Austin canons. The canons were drawn from Merton Priory.[5]
He died shortly before January 25, 1129, the date he was buried.[6]
See also
Notes
- ^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 81
- ^ a b Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p 258
- ^ Teunis "Coronation Charter of 1100" Journal of Medieval History p. 138
- ^ Burton Monastic and Religious Orders p. 69
- ^ Burton Monastic and Religious Orders p. 47
- ^ British History Online Bishops of Winchester accessed on November 2, 2007
References
- Burton, Janet (1994). Monastic and Religious Orders in Britain: 1000-1300, Cambridge Medieval Textbooks. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37797-8.
- British History Online Bishops of Winchester accessed on November 2, 2007
- Catholic Encyclopedia accessed on February 18, 2007
- Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
- Teunis, Henry B. (1978). "The Coronation Charter of 1100: A Postponement of Decision. What did not Happen in Henry I's reign". Journal of Medieval History 4: 135-144.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Bloet |
Lord Chancellor 1093–1101 |
Succeeded by Roger of Salisbury |
| Religious titles | ||
| Preceded by Walkelin |
Bishop of Winchester 1100–1129 |
Succeeded by Henry of Blois |
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Giffard, William |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Winchester; Lord Chancellor of England |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 25, 1129 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
