THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Copyright and use of this thesis This thesis must be used in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Reproduction of material protected by copyright may be an infringement of copyright and copyright owners may be entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. Section 51 (2) of the Copyright Act permits an authorized officer of a university library or archives to provide a copy (by communication or otherwise) of an unpublished thesis kept in the library or archives, to a person who satisfies the authorized officer that he or she requires the reproduction for the purposes of research or study. The Copyright Act grants the creator of a work a number of moral rights, specifically the right of attribution, the right against false attribution and the right of integrity. You may infringe the author’s moral rights if you: - fail to acknowledge the author of this thesis if you quote sections from the work - attribute this thesis to another author -subject this thesis to derogatory treatment which may prejudice the author’s reputation For further information contact the University’s Copyright Service. sydney.edu.au/copyright The ecclesiastical policy of king Henry III of England: episcopal appointments, 1226-1272 Robert Balint A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy Department of History The University of Sydney January 1995 ABSTRACT This thesis is a study of relationships between king Henry III of England and those men, who during 1226-1272 became bishops/archbishops, or who merely emerged as episcopal/archiepiscopal candidates. The work deals with nearly seventy nominees and follows the chronological order of episcopal elections, or attempted promotions in the period. Generally, no effort has been made to highlight the contacts that may have existed between the king and a particular aspirant, after his acceptance or rejection by the principal authorities. The historiographical chapter of the thesis argues that the negative assessment given by most English writers on the reign of Henry III has been intimately connected not only to a modern nationalistic bias, but also to the growing nationalistic prejudice of the thirteenth century monastic chroniclers. In line with the general position of the crown - which, on the whole, affected the type of men that would be advanced to diocesan duties - the period of 1226-72 was marked by various phases. While in the years of 1226-35 Henry’s attempts to influence the composition of the episcopate remained moderate, the situation was quite the opposite in 1236-58. The change was partly effected by the king’s establishment of stronger Continental ties following his marriage in 1236. The conservative years, hallmarked by the advancement of a relatively large number of courtiers to the episcopacy, came to an end with the beginning of the baronial reform movement in 1258. For the next seven years Henry was essentially powerless to influence episcopal promotions. Royal consolidation after 1265 implied that in the remaining years of Henry’s reign only men of tested loyalty would gain episcopal or archiépiscopal rank. The thesis concludes that Henry Ill’s ecclesiastical policy in respect of episcopal candidates served foreign policy objectives, and that, in the context of the age, such an approach was a realistic one. In an attempt to rebuild the Continental empire, following the loss of territories by king John, Henry III came to rely on his Savoyard and Poitevin relatives as allies, on a broader European diplomatic and political stage. That Henry III failed in his final objective was essentially the outcome of deep-seated socio-political trends ultimately favouring the emergence of national monarchies. Nevertheless, the king’s ecclesiastical policy - since it successfully upheld the tradition of courtier-bishops - left an important and positive legacy for the future Edward I and to the English monarchy on the whole. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Professor Ian Jack, of the University of Sydney, I dedicate this thesis in grateful recognition of his wise guidance since the beginning of my post-graduate work in 1989. The greatest debt, however, is to my parents and to my wife, Tiinde, without whom this thesis could never have been written. The University of Sydney • R.B. January 1993 CONTENTS Preface i Abbreviations iv Chapter I 1 King Henry III of England in Modem Historiography Chapter II 22 The years of uncertainty, 1226-35 Chapter III 47 Unwanted candidates and royal favourites, 1236-45 Chapter IV 85 The conservative years, 1245-58 Chapter V 143 The times of turbulence The loss of royal influence, 1258-65 Chapter VI 172 Royalist consolidation and the return of the courtier-bishops, 1265-72 Conclusion 194 Appendix I 211 Episcopal and archiépiscopal candidates in England, 1226-72 Chronological list Appendix II 215 Diocesans during the reign of Henry III, with references to episcopal and archiépiscopal candidates Select Bibliography 219 Primary Evidence Select Bibliography 222 Secondary Works 1 PREFACE This work is a study of relationships between king Henry III of England and those men, who during 1226-1272 became bishops/archbishops, or who merely emerged as episcopal/archiepiscopal candidates. The thesis deals with nearly seventy nominees and follows the chronological order of episcopal elections, or attempted promotions in the period. Generally, no effort has been made to highlight the contacts that may have existed between the king and a particular aspirant after his acceptance or rejection by the principal authorities. Henry Ill’s attitude towards the candidates was largely determined by his earlier links with them, and it formed a vital component of royal ecclesiastical policy that has never before been studied as a coherent whole, and has thus been given its first full, modern treatment. The historiographical chapter of the thesis argues that the negative assessment given by most English writers on the reign of Henry III has been intimately connected not only to a modern nationalistic bias, but also to the growing nationalistic prejudice of the thirteenth century monastic chroniclers. From a broader, ‘transnational’ perspective, however, Henry Ill’s reign can be reassessed in a more balanced way. The king’s ecclesiastical policy in respect of episcopal candidates had followed a strict logic; it had served foreign policy objectives, and in the context of the age, such an approach was a realistic one. In an attempt to rebuild the Continental empire, following the loss of territories by king John, Henry III came to rely on his Savoyard and Poitevin relatives as allies, on a broader European diplomatic and political stage. Yet the royal efforts to appoint ‘foreign’ men to the English episcopacy, were, on the whole, quite moderate. The king’s attitude towards the candidates was also shaped by the fact that each bishopric had its own relative ‘value’ in terms of financial resources, strategic or geographical position, size, etc. 11 That Henry III failed in his final objective was essentially the outcome of deep- seated socio-political trends ultimately favouring the emergence of national monarchies. Seen in this light, one of the most important legacies of Henry Ill’s ecclesiastical policy for the future Edward I was that despite the various political troubles of the era, the tradition of courtier-bishops - whose general support of the crown was necessary, if England was to remain a viable European power - became more entrenched with time. In line with the general position of the crown - which, on the whole, affected the type of men that would be advanced to diocesan duties - the period of 1226-72 was marked by four distinct phases. While in the years of 1226-35, Henry’s attempts to influence the composition of the episcopate remained very moderate, reflecting yet the uncertainties of the times after the long minority, the situation was quite the opposite in 1236-58. The change was partly brought about by the appearance of the king’s general confidence, a factor which itself was connected to Henry’s marriage in 1236 and a much stronger establishment of Continental ties. Not surprisingly, in the period of 1236-45 the king made, perhaps, his most strenuous efforts - which are treated in a separate chapter - to shape the episcopal body according to the crown’s interests. The conservative years, hallmarked by the advancement of a relatively large number of courtiers to the episcopacy, came to an end with the beginning of the baronial reform movement in 1258. For the next seven years Henry was effectively powerless to have his say in episcopal promotions. But naturally, royal consolidation after the battle of Evesham implied that in the remaining years of Henry’s reign only men of tested loyalty, i.e. mostly courtiers, would gain episcopal or archiepiscopal rank. Attempt has also been made in the work to pinpoint those non-political factors that appear to have played a role in the elevation or rejection of a particular nominee. The study principally rests upon the court records of Henry III, and it is assumed that the king had an overall familiarity with those matters and names that are contained in these sources. For the exact date of various events, the thesis mostly relies Ill on the third, 1986 edition o f the Handbook of British Chronology, even when it might not be specifically indicated by a footnote. IV ABBREVIATIONS* AM Annales Monastici Burton Annales de Burton, AM, vol. I. Cal. Papal Letters Calendar of Papal Registers. Papal Letters, ed., W.H. Bliss. Charter Rolls Calendar of Charter Rolls. Henrv III - Edward I. Close Rolls Close Rolls of the Reign of Henrv III CLR Calendar of Liberate Rolls, Henrv III CPR Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henrv III CRR Curia Regis Rolls Dictionary of L.