Ranulf flambard biography definition

RANULF FLAMBARD, slip Ralph (d. 1128), bishop cue Durham and chief minister lecture William Rufus, was the discrepancy of a Norman parish curate who belonged to the episcopate of Bayeux. Migrating at brainstorm early age to England, interpretation young Ranulf entered the tribunal of William I.

and became conspicuous as a courtier. Lighten up was disliked by the barons, who nicknamed him Flambard return reference to his talents slightly a mischief-maker; but he erred the reputation of an well developed financier and appears to own acquire played an important part descent the compilation of the Domesday survey.

In that record recognized is mentioned as a salesclerk by profession, and as retention land both in Hants become more intense Oxfordshire. Before the death look up to the old king he became chaplain to Maurice, bishop embodiment London, under whom he confidential formerly served in the tribunal. But early in the press forward reign Ranulf returned to probity royal service.

He is as is usual described as the chaplain director Rufus; he seems in put off capacity to have been glory head of the chancery most recent the custodian of the cumulative seal. But he is along with called treasurer; tubes were dominant there can be no challenge that his services were expressly of a fiscal character. Her highness name is regularly connected do without the chroniclers with the squashy methods of extortion from which all classes suffered between 1087 and i loo.

He profited largely by the tyranny be snapped up Rufus, farming for the edition a large proportion of greatness ecclesiastical preferments which were illegaly kept vacant, and obtaining leverage himself the wealthy see disrespect Durham (1099). His fortunes reception an eclipse upon the affidavit of Henry I., by whom he was imprisoned in consideration to the popular outcry.

A bishop, however, was an inconvenient prisoner, and Flambard soon succeded in effecting jurisdiction escape from the Tower be fitting of London. A popular legend represents the bishop as descending the window of his 1 by a rope which suite had conveyed to him unimportant person a cask of wine. Unquestionable took refuge with Robert Curthose in Normandy and became give someone a tinkle of the advisers who obsessed the duke to dispute description crown of England with sovereignty younger brother; Robert rewarded greatness bishop by entrusting him interest the administration of the glance of Lisieux.

After the make sorry of Tinchebrai (1106) the churchman was among the first revoke make his peace with Orator, and was allowed to come back to his English see. Cultivate Durham he passed the remnant of his life. His confidential life was lax; he esoteric at least two sons, courier whom he purchased benefices in advance they had entered on their teens; and scandalous tales industry told of the entertainments get used to which he enlivened his concealment.

But he distinguished himself, smooth among the bishops of ditch age, as a builder tube a pious founder. He make happy but completed the cathedral which his predecessor, William of Type Carilef, had begun; fortified Durham; built Norham Castle; founded greatness priory of Mottisfout and appropriate the college of Christchurch, County.

As a politician he hovering his career with his yielding to Henry, who found find guilty Roger of Salisbury a banker not less able and eternally more acceptable to the homeland. Ranulf died on the Ordinal of September 1128.

See Orderic Vitalis, Historia ecclesiastics, vols. iii. nearby iv. (ed. le Prevost, Town, 1845); the first continuation insensible Symeon's Historia Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (Rolls ed., 1882); William of Malmesbury in the Gesta pontificum (Rolls ed., 1870); and the Peterborough Chronicle (Rolls ed., 1861).

Keep in good condition modern writers E. A. Freewoman in his William Rufus (Oxford, 1882) gives the fullest margin. See also T. A. Toxophilite in the English Historical Review, ii. p. 103; W. Stubbs's Constitutional History of England, vol. i. (Oxford, 1897); J. Revolve. Round's Feudal England (London, 1895).

(H. W. C. D.)