Ranulf Flambard

Ranulf Flambard or Ralph Flambard (* around 1060 in Normandy , † September 5, 1128 in Durham ) was the most important minister in the reign of King William II Rufus , Prince-Bishop of Durham, Lord Chancellor and keeper of the seals of England .

Life

Ranulf Flambard was the son of a Norman parish priest in the diocese of Bayeux , Normandy. At a young age he emigrated to England and got a job at the chancellery court of King William I the Conqueror . At court he stood out for his talent for causing trouble. The barons gave him the nickname "Flambard" . Through his skills as a finance and judicial professional, he played an important role in the compilation of the Domesday Book ( Book of Winchester ). In these records he is mentioned as a secretary and landowner. Before William I died, Ranulf was chaplain to Maurice , the Bishop of London and Lord Chancellor of England, under whom he had already served during his time at the Chancellery.

Ranulf returned to royal service under King Wilhelm II (1089). With the help of Ranulf, Wilhelm increased his power by treating the bishops like secular vassals and demanding inheritance fees ( relevia ) from them. He took advantage of the invading regalia and spoilage law , which granted the Crown's income in the case of vacancies and an annual income in the case of new appointments, and delayed the appointment of new bishops in order to be able to enjoy the regalia for as long as possible. Because of this, he left the Archdiocese of Canterbury orphaned after Lanfrank von Bec's death († 1089) . It was only after a serious illness (1093) that Anselm , the abbot of Bec in Normandy, was raised to the chair of Canterbury . In protest against Wilhelm and Ranulf's church policy, Anselm went into exile in 1097. In 1099 Ranulf was enfeoffed with the bishopric of the wealthy diocese of Durham.

When Wilhelm Rufus suddenly died in 1100, the English crown came with Henry I to a ruler who was born in England and knew the language and law of the country. He arrested Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, as the first prisoner in the Tower of London . A rope hidden in a wine barrel enabled him to escape (1101) over the walls. The guards were drunk because the bishop had frankly offered them some of the grape juice. He sought refuge with the elder brother of the English king, Robert II , Duke of Normandy. In his role as Robert's adviser, Flambard urged the Duke into a conflict with his brother Heinrich, which was to end with Robert's takeover in England. When Duke Robert landed in England, Henry's rule was so well established that Robert was forced to renounce. Heinrich pursued him across the canal, defeated him in 1106 at the battle of Tinchebray and kept him prisoner for the rest of his life. Ranulf Flambard was pardoned by Heinrich and was then allowed to return to his bishopric in Durham. From 1107 to 1123 he held the office of Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the Seal of England. He spent the last years of his life in his diocese in Durham, where he died on September 5, 1128.

See also

• List of prisoners in the Tower of London

Web links

• Ranulf or Ralph Flambard

Remarks

1. ^ Kurt Kluxen : History of England. From the beginning to the present (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 374). 3. Edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 1985, ISBN 3-520-37403-X .

predecessor	Office	successor
Waldric	Lord Chancellor of England 1107–1123	Geoffrey Rufus
William of St. Carilef	Bishop of Durham 1099-1128	Geoffrey Rufus