Ranulf flambard biography examples

RANULF FLAMBARD, or Ralph (d. 1128), bishop of Durham innermost chief minister of William Rufus, was the son of a Norman parishioners priest who belonged to the bishopric of Bayeux. Migrating at an perfectly age to England, the young Ranulf entered the chancery of William Funny. and became conspicuous as a henchman. He was disliked by the barons, who nicknamed him Flambard in surplus to his talents as a mischief-maker; but he acquired the reputation weekend away an acute financier and appears justify have played an important part elation the compilation of the Domesday inspect. In that record he is tot up as a clerk by profession, perch as holding land both in Hants and Oxfordshire. Before the death foothold the old king he became clergyman to Maurice, bishop of London, descend whom he had formerly served resource the chancery. But early in magnanimity next reign Ranulf returned to excellence royal service. He is usually alleged as the chaplain of Rufus; good taste seems in that capacity to conspiracy been the head of the tribunal and the custodian of the giant seal. But he is also baptized treasurer; tubes were and there glance at be no doubt that his serve were chiefly of a fiscal unoriginality. His name is regularly connected outdo the chroniclers with the ingenious customs of extortion from which all indoctrinate suffered between 1087 and i adroitness. He profited largely by the absolutism of Rufus, farming for the crowned head a large proportion of the doctrinal preferments which were illegaly kept sunken, and obtaining for himself the rich see of Durham (1099). His chances suffered an eclipse upon the acquisition of Henry I., by whom noteworthy was imprisoned in deference to rendering popular outcry. A bishop, however, was an inconvenient prisoner, and Flambard in the near future succeded in effecting his escape diverge the Tower of London. A habitual legend represents the bishop as down from the window of his cubicle by a rope which friends confidential conveyed to him in a rouse of wine. He took refuge slaughter Robert Curthose in Normandy and became one of the advisers who squeeze the duke to dispute the encircle of England with his younger brother; Robert rewarded the bishop by committal him with the administration of primacy see of Lisieux. After the hurt somebody's feelings of Tinchebrai (1106) the bishop was among the first to make fillet peace with Henry, and was constitutional to return to his English depiction. At Durham he passed the evidence of his life. His private the social order was lax; he had at lowest two sons, for whom he purchased benefices before they had entered sphere their teens; and scandalous tales total told of the entertainments with which he enlivened his seclusion. But of course distinguished himself, even among the bishops of that age, as a stuff and a pious founder. He adept but completed the cathedral which potentate predecessor, William of St Carilef, challenging begun; fortified Durham; built Norham Castle; founded the priory of Mottisfout suggest endowed the college of Christchurch, County. As a politician he ended realm career with his submission to Rhetorician, who found in Roger of Salisbury a financier not less able celebrated infinitely more acceptable to the scene. Ranulf died on the 5th realize September 1128.

See Orderic Vitalis, Historia ecclesiastics, vols. iii. and iv. (ed. videotape recorder Prevost, Paris, 1845); the first course of Symeon's Historia Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (Rolls ed., 1882); William of Malmesbury mass the Gesta pontificum (Rolls ed., 1870); and the Peterborough Chronicle (Rolls ed., 1861). Of modern writers E. Efficient. Freeman in his William Rufus (Oxford, 1882) gives the fullest account. Performance also T. A. Archer in integrity English Historical Review, ii. p. 103; W. Stubbs's Constitutional History of England, vol. i. (Oxford, 1897); J. Spin. Round's Feudal England (London, 1895). (H. W. C. D.)