Geoffrey Rufus
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Rufus was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor
of England.
and Lord Keeper of England, from 1123 to 1133. Geoffrey had also worked for the previous chancellor Ranulf
. He may have started his career as a clerk for Roger of Salisbury
, King Henry I of England
's chief minister, for he first appears as a witness to a charter of Roger's in 1114. From charter evidence, it appears that Rufus was often in England, even when King Henry was in Normandy
. In the Pipe Roll of 1130, he had custody of more royal land than any other official. After Geoffrey became a bishop, the king chose to keep the office of chancellor vacant until the king's death. The functions of the office were performed by the head of the scriptorium, Robert de Sigello
.
Rufus was nominated to the see of Durham about 14 May 1133, and consecrated on 6 August 1133. He was enthroned on 10 August 1133. The see had been vacant since 1128. Geoffrey at first quarrelled with his cathedral chapter
, but peace was restored when the bishop allowed the monks their privileges. Geoffrey also was a benefactor to Newminster Abbey
. During Rufus' episcopate the chapterhouse at Durham was completed. Rufus also employed as a clerk William Cumin
, who after Rufus' death conspired with King David I of Scotland
to seize the see of Durham.
When King Stephen
took the thone at the death of King Henry, Rufus acknowledged Stephen as king, but did not attend the royal court often. In 1136, a peace treaty between King David and King Stephen was signed at Durham, but in 1138 Rufus' castle of Norham surrendered to King David, an act that brought condemnation to the bishop for failing to defend the castle adequately. Geoffrey, however, refused David's offer to return Norham to Geoffrey in return for repudiating Stephen. In retaliation, Norham was destroyed. Geoffrey does not seem to have supported either side at the Battle of the Standard
in August of 1138. At the end of Rufus' life, because of King David's invasion of northern England in support of the Empress Matilda
, most of the diocese was under the control of the Scottish king.
Rufus died on 6 May 1141. Rufus was married, and had at least one daughter, who married Robert of Amundeville. His son Geoffrey seems not to have been involved in politics, although he held an estate in Dorset of 18 and a half hides. His grave was excavated in the 19th century, when the Durham Chapter House was excavated and his grave identified.
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
of England.
Life
Rufus' parentage and upbringing is unknown. The circumstances around his acquisition of the nickname "Rufus" have not been discovered either. He was a royal clerk before being named the tenth Lord ChancellorLord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
and Lord Keeper of England, from 1123 to 1133. Geoffrey had also worked for the previous chancellor Ranulf
Ranulf, Lord Chancellor
Ranulf , was an English cleric and administrator. He became chancellor in the reign of Henry I of England.-Life:...
. He may have started his career as a clerk for Roger of Salisbury
Roger of Salisbury
Roger was a Norman medieval Bishop of Salisbury and the seventh Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England.-Life:...
, 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...
's chief minister, for he first appears as a witness to a charter of Roger's in 1114. From charter evidence, it appears that Rufus was often in England, even when King Henry was in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. In the Pipe Roll of 1130, he had custody of more royal land than any other official. After Geoffrey became a bishop, the king chose to keep the office of chancellor vacant until the king's death. The functions of the office were performed by the head of the scriptorium, Robert de Sigello
Robert de Sigello
Robert de Sigello was a medieval Bishop of London and Lord Chancellor of England.-Life:Robert was keeper of the king's seal, usually known as Lord Chancellor from 1133 to 1135...
.
Rufus was nominated to the see of Durham about 14 May 1133, and consecrated on 6 August 1133. He was enthroned on 10 August 1133. The see had been vacant since 1128. Geoffrey at first quarrelled with his 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...
, but peace was restored when the bishop allowed the monks their privileges. Geoffrey also was a benefactor to Newminster Abbey
Newminster Abbey
Newminster Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Northumberland in the north of England. The site is protected by Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument status...
. During Rufus' episcopate the chapterhouse at Durham was completed. Rufus also employed as a clerk William Cumin
William Cumin
William Cumin was Regius Professor of Midwifery at the University of Glasgow between 1834 and 1840.He was the son of Patrick Cumin , Professor of Oriental Languages at the University of Glasgow, and his wife Rachael Baird...
, who after Rufus' death conspired with King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
to seize the see of Durham.
When King Stephen
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...
took the thone at the death of King Henry, Rufus acknowledged Stephen as king, but did not attend the royal court often. In 1136, a peace treaty between King David and King Stephen was signed at Durham, but in 1138 Rufus' castle of Norham surrendered to King David, an act that brought condemnation to the bishop for failing to defend the castle adequately. Geoffrey, however, refused David's offer to return Norham to Geoffrey in return for repudiating Stephen. In retaliation, Norham was destroyed. Geoffrey does not seem to have supported either side at the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard
The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which English forces repelled a Scottish army, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire. The Scottish forces were led by King David I of Scotland...
in August of 1138. At the end of Rufus' life, because of King David's invasion of northern England in support of 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...
, most of the diocese was under the control of the Scottish king.
Rufus died on 6 May 1141. Rufus was married, and had at least one daughter, who married Robert of Amundeville. His son Geoffrey seems not to have been involved in politics, although he held an estate in Dorset of 18 and a half hides. His grave was excavated in the 19th century, when the Durham Chapter House was excavated and his grave identified.