Cynesige
Encyclopedia
Cynesige was a medieval Archbishop of York
for nine years between 1051 and 1060.
, as he owned the manor of Tinwell
there later in life. The Liber Eliensis
claimed that he had been born by Caesarian section, but this is most likely a later accretion to his lifestory, added after his death because of efforts to have him declared a saint. The belief was that for an infant to survive a caesarian section was a miracle, and thus a fitting beginning for a future saint.
Cynesige had been a royal clerk prior to his appointment to York in 1051, although the monks of Peterborough Abbey maintained that he had been a monk in their house. It is possible he was both a monk and a royal clerk. He delayed his visit to Rome to receive his pallium until 1055, when he was given it by Pope Victor II
. During his time as archbishop he consecrated both John and Michael
as Bishops of Glasgow sometime after 1055, although the two bishops probably never lived in their diocese. John may have ended up as the Bishop of Mecklenburg in Germany. Cynesige dedicated the church of the Abbey of Waltham Holy Cross
in the presence of King Edward the Confessor
around 3 May 1060. He also expanded and embellished York Minster
and other churches in his archdiocese, and built the tower at Beverley
, as well as giving books and other items to the church there.
Cynesige consecrated Herewald
as Bishop of Llandaff
at a council held at London
in 1056, although this information is only attested in the Book of Llandaff
, a sometimes unreliable source. In 1059 he, along with Earl Tostig
and Æthelwine
Bishop of Durham, escorted Malcolm III of Scotland
to King Edward's court at Gloucester
when Malcolm came south, probably to thank Edward for his help in restoring Malcolm to the Scottish throne, and perhaps to acknowledge the English king as Malcolm's lord.
Cynesige died on 20 January 1060. and was buried at Peterborough, in what is now Peterborough Cathedral
. After his death, he was honored as a saint by the monks at Peterborough, although the cult does not seem to have spread far. His bones, along with those of his predecessor Aelfric Puttoc
, were found in 1643. His reputation for sanctity and poverty was based on his actions, as he often traveled on foot, and spent much time preaching and giving alms. The Northumbrian Priests' Law which is usually attributed to Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York
, might have been authored instead by Cynesige, or possibly Cynesige's predecessor Aelfric Puttoc. He gave gifts to Peterborough in his will, but the gifts were taken by Queen Edith of Wessex
instead.
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
for nine years between 1051 and 1060.
Life
Cynesige perhaps came from RutlandRutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, as he owned the manor of Tinwell
Tinwell
Tinwell is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.-Village:The village is just west of the A1 and within walking distance of the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire. The village has a small village hall, which was recently refurbished, and a beautiful church...
there later in life. The Liber Eliensis
Liber Eliensis
The Liber Eliensis is a 12th-century English chronicle and history, written in Latin. Composed in three books, it was written at Ely Abbey on the island of Ely in the fenlands of eastern Cambridgeshire. Ely Abbey became the cathedral of a newly formed bishopric in 1109...
claimed that he had been born by Caesarian section, but this is most likely a later accretion to his lifestory, added after his death because of efforts to have him declared a saint. The belief was that for an infant to survive a caesarian section was a miracle, and thus a fitting beginning for a future saint.
Cynesige had been a royal clerk prior to his appointment to York in 1051, although the monks of Peterborough Abbey maintained that he had been a monk in their house. It is possible he was both a monk and a royal clerk. He delayed his visit to Rome to receive his pallium until 1055, when he was given it by Pope Victor II
Pope Victor II
Pope Victor II , born Gebhard, Count of Calw, Tollenstein, and Hirschberg, was Pope from 1055 to 1057. He was one of a series of German reform Popes.-Life:...
. During his time as archbishop he consecrated both John and Michael
Michael of Glasgow
Michael of Glasgow is the earliest known bishop of Glasgow of the 12th century. Records of his episcopate do not survive from the records of the Kingdom of Scotland, however a bishop and a bishop with the name Michael is recorded in foreign records...
as Bishops of Glasgow sometime after 1055, although the two bishops probably never lived in their diocese. John may have ended up as the Bishop of Mecklenburg in Germany. Cynesige dedicated the church of the Abbey of Waltham Holy Cross
Waltham Abbey (abbey)
The Abbey Church of Waltham Abbey has been a place of worship since at least 1030, and is in the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. The Prime Meridian passes through its grounds. Harold Godwinson is said to be buried just outside the present abbey...
in the presence of King Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
around 3 May 1060. He also expanded and embellished York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
and other churches in his archdiocese, and built the tower at Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
, as well as giving books and other items to the church there.
Cynesige consecrated Herewald
Herewald
Herewald was a medieval Bishop of Sherborne.He was consecrated in 736. He died between 766 and 778.-References:* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961-External links:*...
as Bishop of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
at a council held at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1056, although this information is only attested in the Book of Llandaff
Book of Llandaff
The Book of Llandaff is a 12th century compilation of documents relating to the history of the diocese of Llandaff in Wales...
, a sometimes unreliable source. In 1059 he, along with Earl Tostig
Tostig Godwinson
Tostig Godwinson was an Anglo-Saxon Earl of Northumbria and brother of King Harold Godwinson, the last crowned english King of England.-Early life:...
and Æthelwine
Ethelwin
Æthelwine was the last Anglo-Saxon bishop of Durham, the last who was not also a secular ruler, and the only English bishop at the time of the Norman Conquest who did not remain loyal to King William the Conqueror.-Life:Æthelwine was consecrated bishop in...
Bishop of Durham, escorted Malcolm III of Scotland
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
to King Edward's court at Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
when Malcolm came south, probably to thank Edward for his help in restoring Malcolm to the Scottish throne, and perhaps to acknowledge the English king as Malcolm's lord.
Cynesige died on 20 January 1060. and was buried at Peterborough, in what is now Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, whose statues look down from the...
. After his death, he was honored as a saint by the monks at Peterborough, although the cult does not seem to have spread far. His bones, along with those of his predecessor Aelfric Puttoc
Aelfric Puttoc
Ælfric Puttoc , sometimes modernized Alfric Puttock, was a medieval Archbishop of York and Bishop of Worcester.-Early:Ælfric first appears in the historical record as the provost of New Minster, Winchester. He was probably a native of Wessex...
, were found in 1643. His reputation for sanctity and poverty was based on his actions, as he often traveled on foot, and spent much time preaching and giving alms. The Northumbrian Priests' Law which is usually attributed to Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York
Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York
Wulfstan was an English Bishop of London, Bishop of Worcester, and Archbishop of York. He should not be confused with Wulfstan I, Archbishop of York or Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester. He is thought to have begun his ecclesiastical career as a Benedictine monk. He became the Bishop of London in 996...
, might have been authored instead by Cynesige, or possibly Cynesige's predecessor Aelfric Puttoc. He gave gifts to Peterborough in his will, but the gifts were taken by Queen Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex married King Edward the Confessor of England on 23 January 1045. Unlike most wives of kings of England in the tenth and eleventh centuries, she was crowned queen, but the marriage produced no children...
instead.