Leofgar of Hereford

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Leofgar


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Hereford
Title = Bishop of Hereford
Period = 1056
Predecessor = Athelstan II
Successor =Aldred
ordination =
bishops =
post =
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =June 16 1056
place of death =

Leofgar (or Leovegard) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford.

He was consecrated in March 1056. He had previously been the chaplain to Harold Godwineson,Walker "Harold" p. 70] and it was probably Harold who persuaded King Edward the Confessor to appoint him to the bishopric. The appointment was disapproved of by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, mainly for the warlike character of Leofgar. However, because of the Welsh raids, and the damage the diocese had taken in the previous year, it was felt that a more martial man was needed to help protect the area.Walker "Harold" p. 80-81] Significantly, while a bishop he retained his mustache, a symbol of a warrior.Walker "Harold" p. 120]

He was killed by Gruffydd ap LlywelynWalker "Harold" p. 68] on June 16 1056Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 217] at Glasbury-on-Wye during a battle with the Welsh. Along with Leofgar, a large number of English were killed, which set back the English efforts to pacify the Welsh frontier.Barlow "Edward the Confessor" p. 207-208] Mason "House of Godwine" p. 90-91] After Leofgar's death, the diocese of Hereford was administered by Aldred, who was Bishop of Worcester, until Walter of Lorraine was elected in 1060.Mason "House of Godwine" p. 96]

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Persondata
NAME=Leofgar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Leovegard
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Hereford
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=June 16, 1056
PLACE OF DEATH=