Walter of Albano
Encyclopedia
Walter of Albano or Gualterio (died 1101) was the cardinal-bishop of the Diocese of Albano
in Italy from 1091 to 1101. He served as papal legate
to England in May 1095, where he secured the recognition of Pope Urban II
by King William II of England
. He also brought a pallium
, the symbol of an archbishop's authority, to the newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury
, Anselm of Canterbury
.
In 1095 the papacy was disputed between two claimants, Clement III
and Urban. King William had not recognized either, but Anselm, prior to his election as archbishop, had recognized Urban, and wished to go to Urban to receive his pallium. William would not allow Anselm to go to Rome nor acknowledge any pope until the king had chosen which pope to recognize, and called the Council of Rockingham to persuade Anselm to wait, but the council did not settle matters to the king's satisfaction. In order to resolve the situation without relinquishing his royal right to chose the pope acknowledged by England, the king sent two clerks to Rome to negotiate with Urban about English recognition and the pallium for Anselm. They set out after the Council in February 1095, and returned to England with Walter by 13 May 1095.
said that Walter expressly conceded that no more papal legates would be sent to England without William's permission, for the length of William's life. Papal approval of the king's acts in the dispute was also granted. William then attempted to get the legate to depose Anselm, but was unsuccessful. Hugh also accused Walter of taking a bribe and attempting to get Anselm to swear fealty to the pope and Saint Peter
. In the end, a compromise was reached, which limited the ability of the papacy to interfere in the English Church in exchange for the king's recognition of Urban.
When time came to give Anselm his pallium, the first suggestion that the king give it to Anselm was rejected by the archbishop, and a compromise was reached where Walter put the pallium on the high altar at Canterbury Cathedral
on 27 May 1095, and Anselm took the pallium from the altar. Walter remained in England to collect Peter's Pence
, a traditional payment from the English bishoprics to the papacy. Anselm and the legate did not get along well from the start, for Walter said that Anselm's election as archbishop had been made by schismatics, throwing doubt on Anselm's fitness. Relations between Walter and Anselm were further strained later in the summer when the legate wrote a letter to Anselm relaying some accusations against the archbishop made by some of the English bishops. Although Walter attempted to discuss church reform with Anselm, Anselm gave the excuse that because an invasion from Robert Curthose was expected, the archbishop was unable to talk with the legate due to Anselm's military obligations. Another reason Anselm gave was that nothing could be done about a church council in England without the king's approval.
Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano
The Diocese of Albano is a suburbicarian see of the Roman Catholic Church in a diocese in Italy, comprising seven towns in the Province of Rome...
in Italy from 1091 to 1101. He served as papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to England in May 1095, where he secured the recognition of Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
by King William II of England
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
. He also brought a pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, the symbol of an archbishop's authority, to the newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109...
.
Early career
Walter was appointed a cardinal by Urban in 1091 and was one of Urban's supporters in the papal curia.In 1095 the papacy was disputed between two claimants, Clement III
Antipope Clement III
Guibert or Wibert of Ravenna was a cleric made antipope in 1080 due to perceived abuses of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, a title that lasted to his death....
and Urban. King William had not recognized either, but Anselm, prior to his election as archbishop, had recognized Urban, and wished to go to Urban to receive his pallium. William would not allow Anselm to go to Rome nor acknowledge any pope until the king had chosen which pope to recognize, and called the Council of Rockingham to persuade Anselm to wait, but the council did not settle matters to the king's satisfaction. In order to resolve the situation without relinquishing his royal right to chose the pope acknowledged by England, the king sent two clerks to Rome to negotiate with Urban about English recognition and the pallium for Anselm. They set out after the Council in February 1095, and returned to England with Walter by 13 May 1095.
Legate in England
Walter did not meet with Anselm when he landed at Dover, instead going directly to meet the king. Walter was authorized to give the king "all that he wanted" in return for William's recognition of Urban. The king's chief negotiator was William de St-Calais, the Bishop of Durham. The medieval writer Hugh of FlavignyHugh of Flavigny
Hugh of Flavigny, or Hugo of Flavigny, was a Benedictine monk and medieval historian.-Biography:Hugh was born about 1064, probably at Verdun ; d. before the middle of the twelfth century. He belonged to a prominent family, and received his education at the monastery of St-Vannes at Verdun, where he...
said that Walter expressly conceded that no more papal legates would be sent to England without William's permission, for the length of William's life. Papal approval of the king's acts in the dispute was also granted. William then attempted to get the legate to depose Anselm, but was unsuccessful. Hugh also accused Walter of taking a bribe and attempting to get Anselm to swear fealty to the pope and Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. In the end, a compromise was reached, which limited the ability of the papacy to interfere in the English Church in exchange for the king's recognition of Urban.
When time came to give Anselm his pallium, the first suggestion that the king give it to Anselm was rejected by the archbishop, and a compromise was reached where Walter put the pallium on the high altar at Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
on 27 May 1095, and Anselm took the pallium from the altar. Walter remained in England to collect Peter's Pence
Peter's Pence
Peter's Pence is payment made more or less voluntarily to the Roman Catholic Church. It began under the Saxons in England and is seen in other countries. Though formally discontinued in England at the time of the Reformation, a post-Reformation payment of uncertain characteristics is seen in some...
, a traditional payment from the English bishoprics to the papacy. Anselm and the legate did not get along well from the start, for Walter said that Anselm's election as archbishop had been made by schismatics, throwing doubt on Anselm's fitness. Relations between Walter and Anselm were further strained later in the summer when the legate wrote a letter to Anselm relaying some accusations against the archbishop made by some of the English bishops. Although Walter attempted to discuss church reform with Anselm, Anselm gave the excuse that because an invasion from Robert Curthose was expected, the archbishop was unable to talk with the legate due to Anselm's military obligations. Another reason Anselm gave was that nothing could be done about a church council in England without the king's approval.