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William Longchamp

Ely Cathedral
Denomination Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Ely
Title Bishop of Ely
Period in office 1189–1197
Predecessor Geoffrey Ridel
Successor Eustace
Personal
Date of death January 1197
Place of death Poitiers
William Longchamp
In office
December 1189 – 1191
Monarch Richard
Preceded by Hugh de Puiset (co-chief Justiciar until June 1190)
Succeeded by Walter de Coutances
Constituency South of the Humber River (March-June 1190)
Chancellor of England
In office
1189 – 1197
Monarch Richard
Preceded by Geoffrey
Succeeded by Eustace
Monarch Richard, Duke of Aquitaine
Nationality Norman
Relations Brothers: Osbert, Stephen, Henry, Robert; sisters: Melisend, Richeut
Occupation Bishop
Profession clergy

William Longchamp (sometimes William de Longchamp or William de Longchamps) (died 1197), was a medieval chancellor of England, Chief Jusiticar and bishop of Ely. The Diocese of Ely is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury. The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in Geoffrey Ridel (died 1189 was the nineteenth Lord Chancellor of England, from 1162 to 1173 Poitiers is a town on the Clain River in west central France. In Medieval England and Scotland, the Chief Justiciar (later known simply as the Justiciar) was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Hugh de Puiset (c 1125&ndash3 March 1195 was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Chief Justiciar of England under King Richard I. Walter de Coutances (or Walter de Coutances or Walter of Coutances) (d There are several rivers in the world called the Humber River: Humber River (estuary England on the eastern coast Humber River (Newfoundland The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in He was born in Normandy, and some of the later difficulties he had governing England for King Richard I of England may have been due to his differing views of government from the English. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death His family was humble, and he owed his advancement to royal favour. When Richard took the throne in 1189, Longchamp paid 3000 pounds for the office of Chancellor, and was soon named to the see, or bishopric, of Ely. He was also named papal legate by the pope. A Papal Legate – from the Latin authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the Pope to Foreign nations or to some part of the Catholic

While Richard was on the Third Crusade, Longchamp governed England, but his rule was contested by Richard's brother, John of England. The Third Crusade (1189&ndash1192 also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death Longchamp also had disputes with Richard and John's illegitimate brother Geoffrey, Archbishop of York. Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. Eventually the conflicts led to Longchamp being driven from power and England, and he went to Germany to help secure the release of Richard from the German Emperor's custody. Although he retained the office of Chancellor after Richard's return from captivity, Longchamp never regained power in England, although he retained Richard's trust and was employed by the king until the bishop's death in 1197.

Contents

Early life

William was born in Normandy,[1] near Argenton. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. His father was Hugh de Longchamp, who held land in England also. Hugh Nonant, who was an opponent of Longchamp's, declared that the elder Longchamp was the son of a peasant, but this is unlikely. Hugh Nonant was a medieval Bishop of Coventry. Early life He was a great-nephew of John Bishop of Lisieux, who had been the chief deputy [2] The medieval writer William of Newburgh claimed that Longchamp was "an obscure foreigner of unproven ability and loyalty". William of Newburgh (1136? &ndash 1198? also known as William Parvus was a 12th century English historian and Augustinian canon from Bridlington, [3] His family was originally of humble background, but had risen through service to King Henry II of England. [4] He had a sister, Richeut, who married the castellan of Dover Castle. [5][2] Among his brothers was Osbert, who remained a layman and owed much of his advancement to his brother. [6] Other brothers were Stephen, who served King Richard I of England on crusade; Henry, another layman who became a sheriff along with Osbert; and Robert who became a monk. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Another sister, Melisend, came to England with him, but otherwise is unknown. [2]

Longchamp entered public life at the close of Henry II's reign as official to the king's illegitimate son Geoffrey. Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. He soon left Geoffrey for another of Henry's sons, Richard, duke of Aquitaine; who made him chancellor of the Duchy of Aquitaine. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the [7] He served in Henry II's chancery before he started serving Richard. [8] He first distinguished himself at Paris, as Richard's envoy, when in 1189 he countered Henry's envoy, William Marshall, to Philip Augustus. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city William Marshall or William Marshal is a name shared by the following individuals Political figures noblemen and military leaders William Marshal Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death Longchamp was already one of Richard's trusted advisors at this point. [9]

Chancellor and Justiciar

On Richard's accession in 1189 Longchamp became chancellor of the kingdom. [10] Longchamp paid 3000 pounds for the office of chancellor, and the increase in the price of having chancery documents sealed may have been expected to help Longchamp recoup the cost of office. At the council held at Pipewell on September 15, 1189, the king raised Longchamp to the see of Ely. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. The Diocese of Ely is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury. [2] Richard named three other bishops at the same time: Godfrey de Lucy to Winchester, Richard FitzNigel to London, and Hubert Walter to Salisbury. Godfrey de Lucy (sometimes Godfrey de Luci) was a medieval Bishop of Winchester. The Diocese of Winchester forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England. Richard FitzNeal or FitzNigel, sometimes called Richard of Ely (ca The Diocese of London forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. Hubert Walter ( c 1160&ndash13 July 1205 was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of The Diocese of Salisbury is a Church of England Diocese in the south of England. [11] Richard of Devizes, the medieval chronicler, wrote that the four new bishops were "men of no little virtue and fame". Richard of Devizes (fl late 12th century) English chronicler was a Monk of St Swithin 's house at Winchester. [12] He was consecrated on December 31, 1189[13] and enthroned at Ely on January 6, 1190. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King [14]

When Richard left England in December 1189, he put the tower of London in Longchamp's hands and chose him to share with Hugh de Puiset, the bishop of Durham, the office of chief justiciar. Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower) is a historic monument in central London Hugh de Puiset (c 1125&ndash3 March 1195 was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Chief Justiciar of England under King Richard I. See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in In Medieval England and Scotland, the Chief Justiciar (later known simply as the Justiciar) was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister [8] The two bishops did not get along, and in March 1190 Richard gave authority north of the Humber River to Hugh, and authority south of that river to Longchamp. There are several rivers in the world called the Humber River: Humber River (estuary England on the eastern coast Humber River (Newfoundland By June, Longchamp had eased Hugh out of power and office. [8] In June 1190 he received a commission as a papal legate from Pope Clement III. A Papal Legate – from the Latin authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the Pope to Foreign nations or to some part of the Catholic } See also 11th century Antipope Clement III. Pope Clement III (1130 – March 27 or April 10, 1191) born [14] Supposedly this cost Richard 1500 marks to secure this for Longchamp from the papacy. [15]

While in office, the bishop granted to the citizens of London the right to elect their own sheriffs. They also acquired the right to collect and remit their monetary levy of 300 pounds direct to the Exchequer. [16] Longchamp's visitations to his diocese were accompanied with a large train of retainers and animals, and they became notorious throughout the country as a sign of his extravagance. [17] Under he legatine authority, the bishop held church councils at Gloucester and Westminster in 1190. He also acted to restore authority in York, which had suffered a breakdown in order with the massacre of Jews in March 1190. Also in 1190, he sent an army against Rhys ap Gruffydd, a Welsh prince who was attempting to throw off the control of the marcher lords that surrounded Wales. Genealogy and early life Rhys was the second son of Gruffydd ap Rhys, ruler of part of Deheubarth and Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, daughter of Gruffydd ap [2]

Disputes with John

Gate at Lincoln Castle, which Longchamp besieged in 1190.
Gate at Lincoln Castle, which Longchamp besieged in 1190.

Longchamp's relations with the English people were made more difficult because the bishop was a native of Normandy, and often insensitve to the differing customs in England. [4] Throughout 1190, Longchamp's relations with Richard's younger brother John had been difficult. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death [18] This led to Longchamp besieging Lincoln Castle because the castellan would not surrender the castle and allow himself to be replaced by Longchamp's nominee. This article is about a Norman castle in Lincoln England Lincoln Castle is also the name of a Paddle steamer which served as a [19] The castellan, Gerard de Camville, had also sworn homage to John and stated he would no longer recognize the chancellor's authority. [2] In response, John took the two castles of Tickhill and Northampton. Tickhill is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Doncaster (part of South Yorkshire, England) on the border with Nottinghamshire. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market [19] News of the disagreements reached Richard, who sent Walter de Coutances, Archbishop of Rouen back to England in late spring of 1191 with orders to try and negotiate a peace between John and Longchamp. Walter de Coutances (or Walter de Coutances or Walter of Coutances) (d [5] Eventually, Walter reached a compromise between the two where Gerard was confirmed as castellan and John relinquished the castles. [2] Longchamp also agreed to work to ensure John's succession to the throne if Richard died. [18]

Longchamp's legatine commission had expired in the spring of 1191 with the death of Pope Clement III,[14] which removed one of Longchamp's power bases. } See also 11th century Antipope Clement III. Pope Clement III (1130 – March 27 or April 10, 1191) born [18] By the middle of summer in 1191, Clement's successor Celestine III had renewed the legation. Pope Celestine III ( Rome, c 1106 &ndash January 8, 1198) born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 30, [2] But in September 1191 Henry II's son Geoffrey, now Archbishop of York, was arrested by Longchamp's subordinates when he landed at Dover. Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. [18] The leader of the subordinates was the castellan of Dover Castle, Longchamp's brother-in-law. [5] Their orders had been to arrest the archbishop of York, but Geoffrey had warning of their plans, and fled to sanctuary in St. Martin's Priory. Longchamp's men laid siege to the Priory, and after four days forcibly removed Geoffrey from the priory. The violence of the attack against Geoffrey reminded the public of Thomas Becket's martyrdom, and public opinon turned against the bishop. St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 [18] An intense propaganda campaign led by partisans of John, then ensued. [18] A leader of the campaign against Longchamp was Hugh Nonant, Bishop of Coventry, who along with other magnates convened a trial on October 5, 1191 at Lodden Bridge near London. Hugh Nonant was a medieval Bishop of Coventry. Early life He was a great-nephew of John Bishop of Lisieux, who had been the chief deputy The Bishop of Coventry is the Ordinary of the England Diocese of Coventry in the Province of Canterbury. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Longchamp did not attend the trial, which declared Longchamp deposed. The bishops excommunicated him, and after trying to hold the Tower of London,[5] Longchamp was forced to surrender due to lack of support from the citizens of London. Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower) is a historic monument in central London The council then declared his offices forfeit, and ordered the surrender of the castles in his custody. [2] The main charge against Longchamp appears to have been his autocratic behavior. [5]

Longchamp then went to Dover to seek transport to the continent. Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. While there, he attempted to leave England in disguise, but was unsuccessful. Various stories were told of his disguises, which varied from a monk's habit to women's clothes. Hugh Nonant wrote that Longchamp attempted to hide in prostitute's garb, which led to the bishop being assaulted by a fisherman who mistook him for a whore. Eventually, Longchamp managed to leave England on October 29. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II [2]

Exile and return

Longchamp journeyed to the court of the Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who was holding King Richard I captive at Trifels. Henry VI (November 1165 – 28 September 1197) was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197 Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King The bishop arranged with the emperor for Richard to held at the imperial court, and also worked out a payment plan for the ransom, which totaled 100,000 marks. The emperor agreed to release Richard once 70,000 marks of the ransom had been paid and hostages for the payment of the rest had been received. [20] When the emperor in January 1194 called a meeting of the imperial magnates to debate King Philip II of France's offer to pay the emperor to keep Richard captive, Longchamp attended along with Walter of Coutances and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard's mother. Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 After further diplomatic wrangling, Richard was freed on February 4, 1194. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons [21]

The bishop returned to England with Richard, and was soon embroiled in the renewal of his disagreement with Arcbishop Geoffrey of York. [22] Richard rewarded Longchamp with custody of Eye, as well as appointment as sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire. [2] Richard continued to use Longchamp in diplomacy, for it was the bishop who arranged a truce with King Philip in 1194. [23] Longchamp was back at the emperor's court in 1195. [2] The king also retained Longchamp as chancellor, but the main power in England became Hubert Walter. Hubert Walter ( c 1160&ndash13 July 1205 was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of [24] Longchamp did not return to England after he left with Richard in May 1194. [25]

Death and legacy

He died in January of 1197,[13] at Poitiers[24] while on a diplomatic mission to Rome for Richard. Poitiers is a town on the Clain River in west central France. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 [26] He was buried at the abbey of Le Pin. [2] Longchamp was often described as short and ugly in his life, and the historian Austin Lane Poole says that Gerald of Wales described the bishop as more like an ape than a man. Austin Lane Poole ( 6 December[[ 889]] - 22 February[[ 963]] was a British mediaevalist Gerald of Wales (c 1146 &ndash c 1223 also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, [6] Some of the attacks against him included claims that he was homosexual. [2] His brother Osbert was made sheriff of Yorkshire by his brother. [6] He promoted the careers of his brothers, with both Henry and Osbert becoming sheriffs in the 1190s. [2] His clerical brother Robert also benefited, as he became prior of the Ely cathedral chapter and later abbot of St. Mary's in York. [27]

Longchamp wrote a work on law entitled Practica legum et decretorum. [2] He was a cultured man, and well educated. [8] Nigel Wireker, a medieval poet, dedicated a satirical poem on the habits of students which was named Speculum Stultorum to the bishop. [28] One of Longchamp's innovations as chancellor was the replacement of the first person singular previously used to refer to the king with a first person plural. [2] However, it appears likely that Longchamp did not speak English, as during his attempted escape in late 1191, he was unable to answer the local people when they spoke to him in English. [29]

John Gillingham, the historian, wrote that Longchamp's "record of his life in politics and administration was a good one, spoiled only by his failure in 1191. "[8] However, Gerald of Wales disliked him, and called him that "monster with many heads". [30] Much of the information on his career comes from people hostile to him, but he was supported by others, including Pope Clement III, who when he appointed Longchamp legate, wrote that he did so at the urging of the English bishops. } See also 11th century Antipope Clement III. Pope Clement III (1130 – March 27 or April 10, 1191) born [31] Some have seen in assembly that met to try Longchamp in 1191 a precursor to the gathering at Runnymede in 1215 that drew up Magna Carta. Runnymede is a Water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the county of Surrey, England, associated with the signing of the Magna Carta Magna Carta ( Latin for Great Charter, literally " Great Paper " also called Magna Carta Libertatum ( Great Charter of Freedoms [32]

Notes

  1. ^ Spear "The Norman Empire and the Secular Clergy" Journal of British Studies p. 6
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Turner "Longchamp, William de (d. 1197)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  3. ^ quoted in Gillingham Richard I p. 121
  4. ^ a b Barlow Feudal Kingdom of England p. 352-353
  5. ^ a b c d e Barlow Feudal Kingdom of England p. 373-376
  6. ^ a b c Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 352-353
  7. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 351 footnote 3
  8. ^ a b c d e Gillingham Richard I p. 121-122
  9. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 98
  10. ^ Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 84
  11. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 109
  12. ^ quoted in Gillingham Richard I p. 109
  13. ^ a b Fryde Handbook of British Chronology p. 244
  14. ^ a b c British History Online Bishops of Ely accessed on October 25, 2007
  15. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 130
  16. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 70
  17. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 223
  18. ^ a b c d e f Gillingham Richard I p. 227-229
  19. ^ a b Huscroft Ruling England p. 144
  20. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 239
  21. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 247-248
  22. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 272
  23. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 290
  24. ^ a b Barlow Feudal Kingdom of England p. 385-386
  25. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 368-369
  26. ^ Gillingham Richard I p. 302 footnote 5
  27. ^ Knowles Heads of Religious Houses p. 46
  28. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 241
  29. ^ Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings p. 488
  30. ^ quoted in Barlow Feudal Kingdom of England p. 353
  31. ^ Poole Domesday Book to Magna Carta p. 358
  32. ^ Powell The House of Lords p. 100

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Geoffrey		 Lord Chancellor
1189–1197		 Succeeded by
Eustace
(Keeper of the Great Seal)
Preceded by
Hugh de Puiset		 Chief Justiciar
1189		 Succeeded by
Walter de Coutances
Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Geoffrey Ridel		 Bishop of Ely
1189–1197		 Succeeded by
Eustace
Persondata
NAME Longchamp, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Longchamp, William de; Longchamps, William de
SHORT DESCRIPTION Lord Chancellor of England; Bishop of Ely; Chief Justiciar of England
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH January 1197
PLACE OF DEATH Poitiers
Geoffrey Archbishop of York (c 1152 &ndash 12 December 1212 was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England. The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. Hugh de Puiset (c 1125&ndash3 March 1195 was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Chief Justiciar of England under King Richard I. In Medieval England and Scotland, the Chief Justiciar (later known simply as the Justiciar) was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister Walter de Coutances (or Walter de Coutances or Walter of Coutances) (d Geoffrey Ridel (died 1189 was the nineteenth Lord Chancellor of England, from 1162 to 1173 The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in
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