Adam was the sixth bishop of the restored diocese of Ourense

Diocese of Ourense

Diocese of Ourense Is one of the five districts in which the Roman Catholic church divides Galicia in North-western Spain...

 from 1169 until his death in either 1073 or 1074. The letter written by the cathedral chapter

Cathedral chapter

In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...

 of Ourense to the Archbishop of Braga to announce their election of Adam survives, providing a valuable record of his career prior to assuming the episcopate. The chapter commends him for his "honest ways" (honestas morum) and that he does "not lack in expertise in letters" (non deest in peritia litterarum).

Adam had served as a royal chancellor in 1166–67 and was the prior of the cathedral in Ourense at the time of his elevation. In April 1173 an interdict

Interdict

The term Interdict may refer to:* Court order enforcing or prohibiting a certain action* Injunction, such as a restraining order...

 was placed on the diocese of Ourense. The historian Enrique Flórez

Enrique Florez

Enrique Flórez de Setién y Huidobro was a Spanish historian.Florez was born in Valladolid. At 15 years old, he entered the order of St Augustine. He subsequently became professor of theology at the University of Alcala, where he published a Cursus theologiae in five volumes...

 argued that Adam had probably defended the marriage of King Ferdinand II of León

Ferdinand II of Leon

Ferdinand II was King of León and Galicia from 1157 to his death.-Life:Born in Toledo, Castile, he was the son of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and of Berenguela, of the House of Barcelona. At his father's death, he received León and Galicia, while his brother Sancho received Castile and...

 to the Infanta Urraca of Portugal

Urraca of Portugal

Infanta Urraca of Portugal was a Portuguese infanta , daughter of Afonso I, 1st King of Portugal and his wife Maud of Savoy.Urraca was born at Coimbra. She married Ferdinand II of León with whom she had Alfonso IX of León. This marriage failed to prevent her father Afonso I from declaring war on...

, a marriage recently dissolved by the 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....

 Hyacinth

Pope Celestine III

Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...

. As the diocese of Ourense lay on the border between León and Portugal, and Adam had previously served in Ferdinand's chancery, Richard Fletcher

Richard Fletcher

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Fletcher, 1st Baronet was an engineer in the British Army.Fletcher served in the West Indies, being wounded in action during the capture of St. Lucia in 1791. During 1799 he took part in the preparation of the defences for the Turks in the Dardanelles...

agrees that the bishop's support of the match would be expected.