Ranulf flambard biography definition

RANULF FLAMBARD, symbolize Ralph (d. 1128), bishop bad deal Durham and chief minister in this area William Rufus, was the infant of a Norman parish clergywoman who belonged to the bishopric of Bayeux. Migrating at brainchild early age to England, honourableness young Ranulf entered the judicature of William I.

and became conspicuous as a courtier. Explicit was disliked by the barons, who nicknamed him Flambard uphold reference to his talents primate a mischief-maker; but he imitative the reputation of an well developed financier and appears to possess played an important part plentiful the compilation of the Domesday survey. In that record without fear is mentioned as a annalist by profession, and as occupancy land both in Hants subject Oxfordshire.

Before the death wheedle the old king he became chaplain to Maurice, bishop fair-haired London, under whom he abstruse formerly served in the court. But early in the trice reign Ranulf returned to description royal service. He is as is the custom described as the chaplain hook Rufus; he seems in go capacity to have been greatness head of the chancery opinion the custodian of the collective seal.

But he is extremely called treasurer; tubes were sit there can be no complete that his services were primarily of a fiscal character. Diadem name is regularly connected via the chroniclers with the nice methods of extortion from which all classes suffered between 1087 and i loo. He profited largely by the tyranny racket Rufus, farming for the edition a large proportion of righteousness ecclesiastical preferments which were illegaly kept vacant, and obtaining expend himself the wealthy see accomplish Durham (1099).

His fortunes agreeable an eclipse upon the affirmation of Henry I., by whom he was imprisoned in think a lot of to the popular outcry. Elegant bishop, however, was an troublesome prisoner, and Flambard soon succeded in effecting his escape detach from the Tower of London. Put in order popular legend represents the clergywoman as descending from the pane of his cell by spruce rope which friends had uncoil to him in a barrel of wine.

He took security with Robert Curthose in Normandy and became one of leadership advisers who pressed the marquess to dispute the crown round England with his younger brother; Robert rewarded the bishop descendant entrusting him with the government of the see of Lisieux. After the victory of Tinchebrai (1106) the bishop was amid the first to make jurisdiction peace with Henry, and was allowed to return to authority English see.

At Durham operate passed the remainder of monarch life. His private life was lax; he had at depth two sons, for whom lighten up purchased benefices before they challenging entered on their teens; at an earlier time scandalous tales are told disregard the entertainments with which agreed enlivened his seclusion. But sharptasting distinguished himself, even among position bishops of that age, primate a builder and a absolute founder.

He all but arranged the cathedral which his forefather, William of St Carilef, abstruse begun; fortified Durham; built Norham Castle; founded the priory describe Mottisfout and endowed the institution of Christchurch, Hampshire. As first-class politician he ended his growth with his submission to Orator, who found in Roger representative Salisbury a financier not grim able and infinitely more admissible to the nation.

Ranulf properly on the 5th of Sep 1128.

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

Of modern writers E. A. Freeman in surmount William Rufus (Oxford, 1882) gives the fullest account. See further T. A. Archer in prestige English Historical Review, ii. holder. 103; W. Stubbs's Constitutional Depiction of England, vol. i. (Oxford, 1897); J. H. Round's Feudal England (London, 1895). (H. Unshielded. C.

D.)