David FitzGerald

David FitzGerald (around 1103 - May 8, 1176 ) was a Cambronormann bishop of St Davids .

origin

David was a son of the Norman baron Gerald of Windsor and his Welsh wife Nest ferch Rhys , a daughter of the Welsh king Rhys ap Tewdwr . Through his mother, he had numerous brothers and half-brothers, including William of Carew, Maurice FitzGerald, and Robert FitzStephen .

Career as a clergyman

David embarked on a spiritual career. When Bishop Bernard died in 1148, he was a canon at St David's Cathedral and Archdeacon of Cardigan . Until his death, Bishop Bernard tried not to have to recognize the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury . Instead, he wanted the Bishop of St David's recognition as Metropolitan of Wales. In their search for a successor, the canons of the cathedral were divided into a camp that wanted to elect a Welshman as bishop and one that opposed it. In addition, they were divided on their stance against the Archbishop of Canterbury. Theobald von Bec , the Archbishop of Canterbury, finally called the canons to Lambeth Palace in London to elect a new bishop. He was able to convince a group of canons to vote for David. As a Cambro Norman, David was a compromise for the two camps, and for the Archbishop he was a suitable candidate as David did not question the primacy of the Archbishop. David proved this with his extensive promise of obedience during his ordination on December 19, 1148 in Canterbury. Thus the archbishop had prevailed over the Welsh.

Bishop of St Davids

Although he had good connections through his family to both Welsh princes and the Anglo-Norman ruling class, David was often apolitical. He only campaigned for his half-brother Robert FitzStephen in 1167, when he was captured by Rhys ap Gruffydd von Deheubarth. This had far-reaching consequences, because Rhys only released Robert FitzStephen on condition that he would take part in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. In 1169, Robert FitzStephen actually landed as the first Anglo-Norman in Ireland. David also rarely had contact with the royal court. He took part in the 1164 meeting in which Henry II issued the Constitutions of Clarendon , and signed it. When Henry II traveled to Ireland in September 1171 to assert his sovereignty over the Anglo-Norman conquerors there, the king only made a brief courtesy visit to St Davids, where he did not stay the night but only stayed to eat.

David worked mainly as a local bishop, dealing with larger ecclesiastical issues only when they also concerned Wales. In his 26-year tenure, he was only present at one other episcopal ordination, that of Archbishop Thomas Becket . He took part in 1163 at the Council of Tours and as an old man in 1175 at the Council of Westminster convened by Richard of Dover , where it was again about the position of the Welsh dioceses. With difficulty he was able to prevent the handing over of an indictment of his chapter, which complained about his administration, and promised the delegation improvement and return of alienated church property. Although David appears to have fulfilled his official duties, he was prevented from further activities by the poverty of his diocese. For his trip to the Council in Tours, for example, he had to collect a fee from his own priests. Nevertheless, he gave his brother Maurice FitzGerald, whom he had appointed as administrator of the diocese, parts of the church property. In unlawful disregard for canon law, he himself had a family. For the trousseau of his daughters he gave away further estates of the diocese, and his son Miles participated in the conquest of Ireland.

David was buried in St David's Cathedral. His nephew Giraldus Cambrensis mentioned him in several of his writings. Although he admired him, he also sharply criticized David's marriage and the provision of church property for children and relatives.

Web links

• David Walker: David Fitz Gerald (c.1103x9–1176). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
• Thomas Jones: Fitzgerald, David (d. 1176) , Dictionary of Welsh Biography, National Library of Wales

Individual evidence

1. ^ Rees R. Davies: The Age of Conquest. Wales 1063-1415 . Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford 1991. ISBN 0-19-820198-2 , p. 178

predecessor	Office	successor
Bernard	Bishop of St. Davids 1148–1176	Peter de Leia