Thomas Merke

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Thomas Merke


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Carlisle
Title = Bishop of Carlisle
Period = 1397–1400
Predecessor = Robert Reed
Successor =William Strickland
ordination =
bishops =
post =
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =1409
place of death =

Thomas Merke (or Thomas Merks) (died 1409) was an English priest and Bishop of Carlisle from 1397 to 1400. Educated at Oxford University, be became a Benedictine monk at Westminster Abbey. He was consecrated bishop about 23 April 1397.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 235] He served Richard II as ambassador to various German princes in 1397, was one of the commissioners who negotiated the dowry of Isabella of Valois in 1398, and accompanied the king to Ireland in 1399. He supported Richard against the usurper Henry IV and in 1400 was imprisoned in the Tower of London and deprived of his bishopric as a result. He was, however, released and conditionally pardoned the following year, although not restored to the bishopric. He thereafter served as a deputy and acting bishop in the Diocese of Winchester several times. He was one of those churchmen who sided against Pope Gregory XII at Lucca in 1408. He died in 1409.

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Persondata
NAME= Merke, Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Merks, Thomas
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Carlisle
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=1409
PLACE OF DEATH=