Uthred
Uthred (also Uchtryd or Uchtredus ) († before March 14, 1148 ) was a Welsh clergyman. From 1140 he was Bishop of Llandaff .
Ascent to bishop
The origin of Uthred is unclear. The name Uthred is a northern English name, but whether Bishop Uthred was an Englishman is not certain, possibly he was also a Welshman. It is believed to have been mentioned for the first time in 1126 when an archdeacon Uchtredus of Llandaff testified in Woodstock a settlement between Bishop Urban of Llandaff and Earl Robert of Gloucester . In 1131 and 1134 this Uchtredus accompanied Bishop Urban on his travels to Rome. After almost six years of vacancy in the diocese of Llandaff , Uthred became the new bishop in 1140. He was probably proposed as bishop by King Stephen , otherwise Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury would not have ordained him bishop. The area of the diocese of Llandaff was, however, during the contest for the succession to the throne, the so-called anarchy , under the control of Robert of Gloucester, who was one of the most important allies of Stephen's opponent Matilda . Uthred was therefore a member of Robert of Gloucester's entourage several times.
Activity as bishop
Uthred may have belonged to a Claswr , one of those Welsh families in which the office of priest was inherited after the Norman conquest of Wales and who still shaped the South Welsh church in the 12th century. Like many other Welsh clergymen of his day, Uthred was married and had children, which was criticized by reform-minded clergy. According to chronicler Gerald of Wales , Uthred was poorly educated and a shame for the office of bishop, although this information is partial due to the rivalry between the Diocese of St David's and the Diocese of Llandaff at the time. In fact, Uthred was suspended by Archbishop Theobald at a time that was not exactly known . In addition, he had frequent quarrels with Gilbert Foliot , the abbot of Gloucester Abbey , who vigorously defended the interests of his abbey in Wales. On the other hand, Foliot repeatedly affirmed his friendship with Uthred and occasionally asked him for assistance. Uthred himself also asserted his rights as a bishop. He innovated the administration of his diocese and appointed a Welsh clergyman as dean of Gwent to strengthen his authority as bishop. In addition, he kept his good relationship with Robert of Gloucester. Uthred strengthened his position by marrying his daughter Angharad to Iorwerth , brother of King Morgan from Owain of Caerleon . After Uthred's death, his son Robert tried in vain to enforce his inheritance claim to the diocese of Llandaff against the new bishop Nicholas ap Gwrgan .
Web links
- David Crouch: Uthred [Uchtryd, Uchtredus] (d. 1148). 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
Individual evidence
- ^ David Walker: Medieval Wales . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1990. ISBN 0-521-31153-5 , p. 71
- ^ David Walker: Medieval Wales . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1990. ISBN 0-521-31153-5 , p. 15
- ^ Rees R. Davies: The Age of Conquest. Wales 1063-1415. Oxford University Press, Oxford 1991, ISBN 0-19-820198-2 , p. 176
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Urban |
Bishop of Llandaff 1140–1148 |
Nicholas ap Gwrgan |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Uthred |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Uchtryd; Uchtredus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Welsh clergyman, Bishop of Llandaff |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 11th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | before March 14, 1148 |