Gilbert Crispin
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Crispin was a Christian author and Anglo-Norman
monk, appointed by Archbishop Lanfranc
in 1085 to be the abbot
, proctor and servant of Westminster Abbey
, England
. Gilbert became the third Norman Abbot of Westminster to be appointed after the Norman Conquest, succeeding Abbot Vitalis of Bernay.
He was probably the grandson of Gislebert Crispin, Baron
of Bec, although the Crispin line—being a root of many noble English families—is notoriously convoluted and sometimes vague. His father may have been William Crispin, who fought at Senlac (the Norman name for the Battle of Hastings
), and his mother Eve the daughter of Simon de Montfort l'Aumary. One source claims Gilbert was present, with his brother Milo, as camp boys at the Battle of Hastings - possibly even watching as his father and another relation, Gilbert of Tillières, charged the English with Henry de Ferrers, the latter two each having brought a large company into the field.
Gilbert had known Saint Anselm
, since Gilbert was a young monk
under Anselm at the Abbey of Bec, Normandy
. There Gilbert was said to have: "become a perfect scholar in all the liberal arts
". In 1093, Saint Anselm became Archbishop of Canterbury
. Gilbert promoted Anselm's arguments in his disputes with King Henry I of England
. Gilbert was probably useful to Anselm's cause, since as well as being an Abbot, he apparently also acted as a general administrator to the King.
Gilbert's own careful and subtle writings opened a dialogue between the Christian
and Jewish faiths, which may possibly have drawn on earlier (and now lost) work by an anonymous writer from the time of Charlemagne
. Gilbert also wrote the life of Herluin (Vita Herluini), the knight founder and first Abbot of Bec, and created many other works.
On Gilbert's death - his tomb can be seen in Westminster Abbey, in the 'south walk' - there was no Abbot appointed for four years. Much of Gilbert's organisational work was thus undone, until the appointment of Abbot Herbert in 1121 stabilised matters somewhat.
Gilbert's brother was Milo Crispin
(d. 1149), precentor
at the monastery at the Abbey of Bec. Milo wrote the Vita Lanfranci that drew on his brother Gilbert's Vita Herluini. Gilbert is also believed to be related to Miles Crispin
of Wallingford.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
monk, appointed by Archbishop Lanfranc
Lanfranc
Lanfranc was Archbishop of Canterbury, and a Lombard by birth.-Early life:Lanfranc was born in the early years of the 11th century at Pavia, where later tradition held that his father, Hanbald, held a rank broadly equivalent to magistrate...
in 1085 to be the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, proctor and servant of Westminster Abbey
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,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Gilbert became the third Norman Abbot of Westminster to be appointed after the Norman Conquest, succeeding Abbot Vitalis of Bernay.
He was probably the grandson of Gislebert Crispin, Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
of Bec, although the Crispin line—being a root of many noble English families—is notoriously convoluted and sometimes vague. His father may have been William Crispin, who fought at Senlac (the Norman name for the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
), and his mother Eve the daughter of Simon de Montfort l'Aumary. One source claims Gilbert was present, with his brother Milo, as camp boys at the Battle of Hastings - possibly even watching as his father and another relation, Gilbert of Tillières, charged the English with Henry de Ferrers, the latter two each having brought a large company into the field.
Gilbert had known Saint Anselm
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...
, since Gilbert was a young monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
under Anselm at the Abbey of Bec, 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:...
. There Gilbert was said to have: "become a perfect scholar in all the liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
". In 1093, Saint Anselm became 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...
. Gilbert promoted Anselm's arguments in his disputes with 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...
. Gilbert was probably useful to Anselm's cause, since as well as being an Abbot, he apparently also acted as a general administrator to the King.
Gilbert's own careful and subtle writings opened a dialogue between the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and Jewish faiths, which may possibly have drawn on earlier (and now lost) work by an anonymous writer from the time of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. Gilbert also wrote the life of Herluin (Vita Herluini), the knight founder and first Abbot of Bec, and created many other works.
On Gilbert's death - his tomb can be seen in Westminster Abbey, in the 'south walk' - there was no Abbot appointed for four years. Much of Gilbert's organisational work was thus undone, until the appointment of Abbot Herbert in 1121 stabilised matters somewhat.
Gilbert's brother was Milo Crispin
Milo Crispin
Milo Crispin was cantor of the Benedictine Abbey of Bec. He wrote the lives of five of its abbots: Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, Gulielmus de Bellomonte, Boso, Theobaldus and Letardus.-Biography and works:...
(d. 1149), precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
at the monastery at the Abbey of Bec. Milo wrote the Vita Lanfranci that drew on his brother Gilbert's Vita Herluini. Gilbert is also believed to be related to Miles Crispin
Miles Crispin
Miles Crispin , also known as Miles or Milo of Wallingford, was a wealthy Norman landowner, particularly associated with Wallingford Castle in Berkshire...
of Wallingford.
Further reading
- Anna Sapir Abulafia & G. Evans. The Works of Gilbert Crispin. (1986).
- J. A. Robinson. Gilbert Crispin, Abbot of Westminster: A Study of the Abbey under Norman Rule, Notes and Documents Relating to Westminster Abbey. (3 volumes, 1911).