William Giffard

Infobox bishopbiog
name =William Giffard


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Winchester
Title = Bishop of Winchester
Period = 1100–1129
Predecessor = Walkelin
Successor =Henry of Blois
ordination =
bishops =
post =
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =January 25 1129
place of death =

William Giffard was the Lord Chancellor of England of William II and Henry I, from 1093 to 1101.Powicke "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 81]

He was the brother of Walter Giffard earl of Buckingham.Newman "Family and Royal Favor" "Albion" p. 294] He also held the office of Dean of Rouen prior to his election as bishop.Spear "Norman Empire" "Journal of British Studies" p. 7] On August 3 1100 he became bishop of WinchesterPowicke "Handbook of British Chronology" p 258] 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.Teunis "Coronation Charter of 1100" "Journal of Medieval History" p. 138] 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 and became a close friend of Archbishop Anselm.Fact|date=June 2008 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.Burton "Monastic and Religious Orders" p. 69] 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.Burton "Monastic and Religious Orders" p. 47] He was known for the close and good relations that he had with the monks of his cathedral chapter, sharing their meals and sleeping with them instead of in his own room.Bethell "English Black Monks" "English Historical Review" p. 682]

He died shortly before January 25 1129, the date he was buried. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33876 British History Online Bishops of Winchester] accessed on November 2, 2007]

ee also

* List of bishops of Winchester
* List of Lord Chancellors and Lord Keepers

Notes

References

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* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33876 British History Online Bishops of Winchester] accessed on November 2, 2007
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06552a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] accessed on February 18, 2007
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* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
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*1911

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=