Nicholas of Arbroath
Encyclopedia
Nicholas O. Tiron Abbot of Arbroath
and Bishop of Dunblane
, was a late 13th century and early 14th century churchman in the Kingdom of Scotland
. Little is known about Nicholas until in he appeared on November 21, 1299, holding the position of Abbot of Arbroath in a charter of that abbey; the last attestation of his predecessor Henry can be dated to October 16, 1296, so that Nicholas must have become abbot sometime in between these two dates.
As Abbot of Arbroath, he was a canon of Dunblane Cathedral
, and entitled to participate in episcopal elections. Bishop Alpín
had died sometime between October 1, 1299, and October 15, 1301, and the new election to the bishopric became deadlocked.
Several canons had emerged as candidates, and it seems to have been decided that all candidates should proceed to the papal see to request judgment from the Pope. As it happened, Abbot Nicholas was the only candidate to travel to the papacy; as Cockburn commented, "An abbot could face the heavy expense; no poor canon of the Cathedral could". When no other turned up, the Pope authorised Nicholas' provision, and he was consecrated by Theodoric
, Bishop of Palestrina, on November 13, 1301.
Nicholas' short career as bishop is not well recorded. In the events of the early Wars of Scottish Independence
, Nicholas' role is unclear and aside from some appearances in the charters of Coupar Angus Abbey
, his name is largely absent from the evidence. He appears for the last time, in papal documents, on January 26, 1306, and was dead a good time before December 11, 1307, when his successor Nicholas de Balmyle
was consecrated as bishop in France.
Abbot of Arbroath
Abbot of Arbroath was the head of the Tironensian Benedictine monastic community of Arbroath Abbey, Angus, Scotland, founded under the patronage of King William of Scotland from Kelso Abbey and dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury. The abbot, John Gedy, was granted the mitre on 26 June 1396...
and Bishop of Dunblane
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...
, was a late 13th century and early 14th century churchman in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. Little is known about Nicholas until in he appeared on November 21, 1299, holding the position of Abbot of Arbroath in a charter of that abbey; the last attestation of his predecessor Henry can be dated to October 16, 1296, so that Nicholas must have become abbot sometime in between these two dates.
As Abbot of Arbroath, he was a canon of Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...
, and entitled to participate in episcopal elections. Bishop Alpín
Alpín of Strathearn
Alpín of Strathearn was late 13th century Scottish prelate and graduate of the University of Bologna. The description of him as being of "noble birth" and his appellation de Stratherne indicate he was probably from the kin-group of the mormaers of Strathearn...
had died sometime between October 1, 1299, and October 15, 1301, and the new election to the bishopric became deadlocked.
Several canons had emerged as candidates, and it seems to have been decided that all candidates should proceed to the papal see to request judgment from the Pope. As it happened, Abbot Nicholas was the only candidate to travel to the papacy; as Cockburn commented, "An abbot could face the heavy expense; no poor canon of the Cathedral could". When no other turned up, the Pope authorised Nicholas' provision, and he was consecrated by Theodoric
Teodorico Ranieri
Teodorico Ranieri of Orvieto was an Italian cardinal. He was archbishop of Pisa, and bishop of Palestrina.In 1298 Ranieri was instrumental in the destruction of the city of Palestrina on the orders of Pope Boniface VIII, following the anti-papal revolt of the Colonna family...
, Bishop of Palestrina, on November 13, 1301.
Nicholas' short career as bishop is not well recorded. In the events of the early Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
, Nicholas' role is unclear and aside from some appearances in the charters of Coupar Angus Abbey
Coupar Angus Abbey
Coupar Angus Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near Coupar Angus, in central Scotland, on the boundary between Angus and Gowrie.It was founded on the old royal manor of Coupar in 1161 x 1162 with the patronage of Máel Coluim IV , King of Scots, by Cistercian monks from Melrose Abbey...
, his name is largely absent from the evidence. He appears for the last time, in papal documents, on January 26, 1306, and was dead a good time before December 11, 1307, when his successor Nicholas de Balmyle
Nicholas de Balmyle
Nicholas de Balmyle , also called Nicholas of St Andrews, was a Scottish administrator and prelate in the late 13th century and early 14th century...
was consecrated as bishop in France.