Godbald
Encyclopedia
Godbald (died 12 November 1127, in Utrecht
) was a bishop
of Utrecht from 1114 to 1127.
Nothing is known about Godbald's origins. He was Provost
at the chapter
of the Johns-church in Utrecht and was closely involved in the management of the bishops Conrad of Swabia and Burchard
before he was himself elected as bishop in 1114, after a lengty vacancy.
On his elevation, his first act was to restore order in the Zeelandic part of the diocese, that belonged to the County of Flanders
. The heretical preacher Tanchelm
had tried to get the area transferred to the bishopric of Terwaan, which was governed by a like-minded bishop. Tanchelm died in 1115, but his influence remained. In 1123, Godbald founded a Norbertine monastery
in Middelburg
, which was assigned to combat the heresy of Tanchelm.
Godbald was a reform-minded man. This was shown by his involvement in the founding of the St. Laurens abbey near Oostbroek at De Bilt
, which was the first monastery in the diocese to join the Cluniac movement. Godbald sided with the pope
in the Investiture Controversy
. During a visit of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
to Utrecht in 1122, the following of the emperor clashed with the bishop's ministrials, after which Godbald was taken prisoner. He was soon released, but at the cost of major concessions. The city of Utrecht
was given several important city rights; they were allowed to build an earthen wall around the city and they received financial favours at the cost of the bishopric.
At the Concordat of Worms
in the same year, Godbald seems to have supported the emperor, but in 1123 they clashed again. They soon reconciled, but Henry V died in 1125 in Utrecht, after which his opponent Lothair III
rose to the throne. Almost immediately Godbald was at odds with the emperor again. Lothair III supported his family-in-law, the Counts of Holland
, and granted them rights over Friesland, which had previously been granted to the bishopric by Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
.
During the Imperial Diet
at Utrecht in 1126 Godbald again lost in a dispute with the counts of holland, this time over the newly-mined peatlands around Utrecht. Godbald had played an active role in the cultivation of these area's. He had also had a dam laid down at Wijk bij Duurstede
to stabilize the water level of the Kromme Rijn
, and he had the Vaartse Rijn
, a short canal, dug to improve the ship transportation.
After the setback at the Imperial Diet, Godbald retreated to the monastery of Oostbroek, where he died and was buried in 1127.
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
) was a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Utrecht from 1114 to 1127.
Nothing is known about Godbald's origins. He was Provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
at the chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of the Johns-church in Utrecht and was closely involved in the management of the bishops Conrad of Swabia and Burchard
Burchard
Burchard is a Germanic given name, from Burg "protection" and hart "hardy, brave."-People:...
before he was himself elected as bishop in 1114, after a lengty vacancy.
On his elevation, his first act was to restore order in the Zeelandic part of the diocese, that belonged to the County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
. The heretical preacher Tanchelm
Tanchelm
Tanchelm , also known as Tanchelm of Antwerp, Tanchelijn or Tanchelin, was a heretical itinerant preacher, critical of the established Roman Catholic church, active in the Low Countries around the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries....
had tried to get the area transferred to the bishopric of Terwaan, which was governed by a like-minded bishop. Tanchelm died in 1115, but his influence remained. In 1123, Godbald founded a Norbertine monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
, which was assigned to combat the heresy of Tanchelm.
Godbald was a reform-minded man. This was shown by his involvement in the founding of the St. Laurens abbey near Oostbroek at De Bilt
De Bilt
De Bilt is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-Population centres :The municipality of De Bilt consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Bilthoven, De Bilt, Groenekan, Hollandsche Rading, Maartensdijk, Westbroek...
, which was the first monastery in the diocese to join the Cluniac movement. Godbald sided with the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
in the Investiture Controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
. During a visit of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
to Utrecht in 1122, the following of the emperor clashed with the bishop's ministrials, after which Godbald was taken prisoner. He was soon released, but at the cost of major concessions. The city of Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
was given several important city rights; they were allowed to build an earthen wall around the city and they received financial favours at the cost of the bishopric.
At the Concordat of Worms
Concordat of Worms
The Concordat of Worms, sometimes called the Pactum Calixtinum by papal historians, was an agreement between Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V on September 23, 1122 near the city of Worms...
in the same year, Godbald seems to have supported the emperor, but in 1123 they clashed again. They soon reconciled, but Henry V died in 1125 in Utrecht, after which his opponent Lothair III
Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor
Lothair III of Supplinburg , was Duke of Saxony , King of Germany , and Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 to 1137. The son of Count Gebhard of Supplinburg, his reign was troubled by the constant intriguing of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia and Duke Conrad of Franconia...
rose to the throne. Almost immediately Godbald was at odds with the emperor again. Lothair III supported his family-in-law, the Counts of Holland
County of Holland
The County of Holland was a county in the Holy Roman Empire and from 1482 part of the Habsburg Netherlands in what is now the Netherlands. It covered an area roughly corresponding to the current Dutch provinces of North-Holland and South-Holland, as well as the islands of Terschelling, Vlieland,...
, and granted them rights over Friesland, which had previously been granted to the bishopric by Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
.
During the Imperial Diet
Imperial Diet
Imperial Diet means the highest representative assembly in an empire, notably:* the historic institution of the Imperial Diet , either the estates in the Holy Roman Empire...
at Utrecht in 1126 Godbald again lost in a dispute with the counts of holland, this time over the newly-mined peatlands around Utrecht. Godbald had played an active role in the cultivation of these area's. He had also had a dam laid down at Wijk bij Duurstede
Wijk bij Duurstede
- The city of Wijk bij Duurstede :The city is located on the Rhine. At Wijk bij Duurstede, the Kromme Rijn branches off, and the main branch is called Lek River downstream from Wijk bij Duurstede....
to stabilize the water level of the Kromme Rijn
Kromme Rijn
The Kromme Rijn is a river in Utrecht , Netherlands.In Roman times, this northernmost branch of the Rhine delta was the main distributary of this major European river...
, and he had the Vaartse Rijn
Vaartse Rijn
The Vaartse Rijn is a canal connecting the city of Utrecht with Nieuwegein and the Lek river in the Dutch province of Utrecht . The Vaartse Rijn was formerly a major shipping route between Utrecht and the Rhine basin.-History:...
, a short canal, dug to improve the ship transportation.
After the setback at the Imperial Diet, Godbald retreated to the monastery of Oostbroek, where he died and was buried in 1127.