Roger de Clinton
Encyclopedia
Roger de Clinton was a medieval Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He was responsible for organising a new grid street plan for the town of Lichfield
in the 12th century which survives to this day.
, an advisor to King Henry I of England
.
Clinton had been an archdeacon
before his elevation to the episcopate, either of Buckingham or of Lincoln. Geoffrey de Clinton was said to have promised King Henry three thousand marks
if the king would appoint Roger a bishop. Roger was nominated in October 1129, and consecrated on 22 December 1129. Roger was part of the deputation to the papal curia in 1139 that defended King Stephen of England
against the charge of breaking his oath to the Empress Matilda
. Another member of the delegation included Arnulf of Lisieux
, who was an archdeacon at the time, but who presented the case. Roger also attended the Second Lateran Council in 1139. The Gesta Stephani claimed that Roger was heavily involved in military affairs during the reign of King Stephen.
Clinton died on 16 April 1148. Clinton was responsible for establishing Buildwas Abbey
, a Cistercian house in Shropshire in 1135.
novel The Heretic's Apprentice
in the Brother Cadfael
Series.
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
in the 12th century which survives to this day.
Life
Clinton was the nephew of Geoffrey de ClintonGeoffrey de Clinton
Geoffrey de Clinton was an Anglo-Norman noble, chamberlain and treasurer to King Henry I of England. He was foremost amongst the men king Henry "raised from the dust". He married Lescelina.-Life:Clinton's family origins are a little obscure...
, an advisor to King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
.
Clinton had been an archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
before his elevation to the episcopate, either of Buckingham or of Lincoln. Geoffrey de Clinton was said to have promised King Henry three thousand marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
if the king would appoint Roger a bishop. Roger was nominated in October 1129, and consecrated on 22 December 1129. Roger was part of the deputation to the papal curia in 1139 that defended King Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
against the charge of breaking his oath to the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
. Another member of the delegation included Arnulf of Lisieux
Arnulf of Lisieux
"Arnoul" redirects here. For the Cyborg 009 character, Francoise Arnoul, see more info in Cyborg 009.Arnulf of Lisieux was a medieval French bishop.He was educated by his brother, the Bishop of Sées, and studied canon law at Rome...
, who was an archdeacon at the time, but who presented the case. Roger also attended the Second Lateran Council in 1139. The Gesta Stephani claimed that Roger was heavily involved in military affairs during the reign of King Stephen.
Clinton died on 16 April 1148. Clinton was responsible for establishing Buildwas Abbey
Buildwas Abbey
Buildwas Abbey is located along the banks of the River Severn in Buildwas, Shropshire, England, about two miles west of Ironbridge.-Early history:...
, a Cistercian house in Shropshire in 1135.
Historical fiction
Clinton appears as a character in Ellis Peter'sEdith Pargeter
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM , also known by her nom de plume Ellis Peters, was a British author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both...
novel The Heretic's Apprentice
The Heretic's Apprentice
The Heretic's Apprentice is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, first published in 1990, and set in June 1143. It features Brother Cadfael, a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of St. Peter and Paul in Shrewsbury. Bishop Roger de Clinton appears as a character....
in the Brother Cadfael
The Cadfael Chronicles
The Cadfael Chronicles is a series of historical murder mysteries written by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the name "Ellis Peters"....
Series.