David the Scot
Encyclopedia
David the Scot was a Welsh
or Irish
cleric who was Bishop of Bangor
from 1120 to 1138.
There is some doubt as to David's nationality, as he is variously described as Irish and Welsh. He was master of the cathedral school of Würzburg
before 1110, and in that year accompanied the Emperor Henry V
to Italy. He wrote an account of this expedition.
He was elected Bishop of Bangor, at the instigation of Gruffydd ap Cynan
, king of Gwynedd
, in 1120. The previous bishop, Hervé
, had been expelled from his see by the Welsh, and deadlock between Gruffydd and the king of England concerning the choice of a new bishop had resulted in the see
being vacant for around twenty years. Gruffydd threatened to get the new Bishop consecrated in Ireland
, but eventually King Henry I of England
agreed to the appointment of David to the see on condition that he accepted the supremacy of Canterbury. David was consecrated by Ralph
, Archbishop of Canterbury
on April 4, 1120 at Westminster
.
David was responsible for the rebuilding of Bangor Cathedral
, the earliest surviving parts of which date to his episcopate. In this he was aided by a large grant of money from Gruffydd ap Cynan. David is last recorded in attendance at the deathbed of Gruffydd ap Cynan in 1137. It is thought that he may have returned to Würzburg as a monk shortly before his death.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
or Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
cleric who was Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
from 1120 to 1138.
There is some doubt as to David's nationality, as he is variously described as Irish and Welsh. He was master of the cathedral school of Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
before 1110, and in that year accompanied the Emperor Henry V
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 Italy. He wrote an account of this expedition.
He was elected Bishop of Bangor, at the instigation of Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
, king of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
, in 1120. The previous bishop, Hervé
Hervey le Breton
Hervey le Breton was a Breton cleric who became Bishop of Bangor in Wales and later Bishop of Ely in England. Appointed to Bangor by King William II of England, when Normans were advancing into Wales, Hervey was unable to remain in his diocese when the Welsh began to drive the Normans back from...
, had been expelled from his see by the Welsh, and deadlock between Gruffydd and the king of England concerning the choice of a new bishop had resulted in the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
being vacant for around twenty years. Gruffydd threatened to get the new Bishop consecrated in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but eventually 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...
agreed to the appointment of David to the see on condition that he accepted the supremacy of Canterbury. David was consecrated by Ralph
Ralph d'Escures
Ralph , also known as Ralph d'Escures from the family estate Escures, near Sées in Normandy, was a medieval Abbot of Séez, Bishop of Rochester and then Archbishop of Canterbury. He studied at the school at the Abbey of Bec. In 1079 he entered the abbey of St Martin at Séez, and became abbot there...
, 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...
on April 4, 1120 at Westminster
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
David was responsible for the rebuilding of Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is an ancient place of Christian worship situated in Bangor, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol....
, the earliest surviving parts of which date to his episcopate. In this he was aided by a large grant of money from Gruffydd ap Cynan. David is last recorded in attendance at the deathbed of Gruffydd ap Cynan in 1137. It is thought that he may have returned to Würzburg as a monk shortly before his death.