John de Gray
Encyclopedia
John de Gray was Bishop of Norwich
in the English county of Norfolk
, as well as being elected Archbishop of Canterbury
, but was never confirmed as archbishop.
in Oxfordshire
, and descended from the Norman knight, Anchetil de Greye
. He entered Prince John's service by 1196 and was keeper of John's seal by 1198. After John's accession in 1199 he became Archdeacon of Cleveland
in March of 1200 and Archdeacon of Gloucester before April 1200 and was elected bishop of Norwich in September 1200. He was elected about 7 September and was consecrated on 24 September. He also served as John's secretary. In 1203 he went with Archbishop Hubert Walter
of Canterbury on a diplomatic mission to King Philip II of France
. He was also instrumental in securing the selection of his nephew as Lord Chancellor
after Walter's death in 1205.
King John's attempt to force Gray's election as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1205 started the king's long quarrel with Pope Innocent III
. After Hubert Walter's death in July of 1205 the selection of a successor was hindered by doubts about what the proper procedure should be. King John postponed a decision while delegations from both the bishops of England and the monks of the cathedral chapter
went to Rome to seek guidance from the pope. However, while the delegations were in Rome, the monks of Canterbury decided to hold a secret election and elected their prior Reginald to be archbishop. Reginald was sent to Rome to join the delegation. When King John found out that the monks had elected someone without any regal input he forced the monks to elect John de Gray as archbishop. Some stories have the election of Reginald taking place before the sending of the first delegation to the curia. Another source, Gervase of Canterbury
has the king telling the chapter they could choose their own nominee after six months, while the king secretly sent envoys to Rome to secure the election of de Gray.
Gray was postulated to Canterbury on 11 December 1205 and the nomination was quashed by Pope Innocent III about 30 March 1206, along with Reginald's claim. The monks then elected, with Innocent's approval, Stephen Langton
.
In 1209, Gray was governor of Ireland. His policy while there was to extend English rule, and was involved with battles on the River Shannon
and in Fermanagh. But in 1212 at Fircal in County Offaly
he was defeated. Another policy was to replace the Irish coinage with English coins. He also attempted to make English laws run in Ireland, but was unsuccessful.
During the interdict
that Innocent III placed on England during John's reign, de Gray stayed in the England and helped govern the kingdom, even after the king was excommunicated, along with Peter des Roches
, Bishop of Winchester
Gray's ability to raise money made him useful to King John. In 1213, Gray mustered 500 knights during a period when King Philip II was threatening to invade England. When John and the pope concluded the treaty where John gave England to the pope and received it back as a vassal, John de Gray was one of the witnesses to the treaty. After John settled with the papacy, Gray was not included in the general pardon, and had to go to Rome to receive a pardon. After obtaining a pardon, Pope Innocent III recommended Gray's election as Bishop of Durham in 1213; but he died while returning to England at Saint-Jean-d'Angély
in Poitou
on 18 October 1214. He was buried in Norwich Cathedral
.
As bishop, Gray settled a long running dispute between the monks of his cathedral chapter and the bishops.
Gray was the uncle of Walter de Gray, Archbishop of York
and Lord Chancellor from 1215 to 1255.
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
in the English county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, as well as being 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...
, but was never confirmed as archbishop.
Life
Gray was a younger son of Robert de Gray of Rotherfield GreysRotherfield Greys
Rotherfield Greys is a village and civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire. It is west of Henley-on-Thames and just over east of the village of Rotherfield Peppard....
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, and descended from the Norman knight, Anchetil de Greye
Anchetil de Greye
Anchetil de Greye was a vassal of William the Conqueror, whom he accompanied in the Norman conquest of England.-Life:Anchetil de Greye is specifically named in the Domesday Book of 1086...
. He entered Prince John's service by 1196 and was keeper of John's seal by 1198. After John's accession in 1199 he became Archdeacon of Cleveland
Archdeaconry of Cleveland
The Archdeaconry of Cleveland is an archdeaconry, or subdivision, of the Church of England Diocese of York in the Province of York. It stretches west from Thirsk, north to Middlesbrough, east to Whitby and south to Pickering...
in March of 1200 and Archdeacon of Gloucester before April 1200 and was elected bishop of Norwich in September 1200. He was elected about 7 September and was consecrated on 24 September. He also served as John's secretary. In 1203 he went with Archbishop Hubert Walter
Hubert Walter
Hubert Walter was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of Chief Justiciar of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor. As chancellor, Walter began the keeping of the Charter Roll, a record of all charters issued by the...
of Canterbury on a diplomatic mission to King Philip II of France
Philip II of France
Philip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...
. He was also instrumental in securing the selection of his nephew as Lord Chancellor
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...
after Walter's death in 1205.
King John's attempt to force Gray's election as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1205 started the king's long quarrel with Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
. After Hubert Walter's death in July of 1205 the selection of a successor was hindered by doubts about what the proper procedure should be. King John postponed a decision while delegations from both the bishops of England and the monks of 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...
went to Rome to seek guidance from the pope. However, while the delegations were in Rome, the monks of Canterbury decided to hold a secret election and elected their prior Reginald to be archbishop. Reginald was sent to Rome to join the delegation. When King John found out that the monks had elected someone without any regal input he forced the monks to elect John de Gray as archbishop. Some stories have the election of Reginald taking place before the sending of the first delegation to the curia. Another source, Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury was an English chronicler.- Life :...
has the king telling the chapter they could choose their own nominee after six months, while the king secretly sent envoys to Rome to secure the election of de Gray.
Gray was postulated to Canterbury on 11 December 1205 and the nomination was quashed by Pope Innocent III about 30 March 1206, along with Reginald's claim. The monks then elected, with Innocent's approval, Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228 and was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which ultimately led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215...
.
In 1209, Gray was governor of Ireland. His policy while there was to extend English rule, and was involved with battles on the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
and in Fermanagh. But in 1212 at Fircal in County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
he was defeated. Another policy was to replace the Irish coinage with English coins. He also attempted to make English laws run in Ireland, but was unsuccessful.
During the interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
that Innocent III placed on England during John's reign, de Gray stayed in the England and helped govern the kingdom, even after the king was excommunicated, along with Peter des Roches
Peter des Roches
Peter des Roches was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. Roches was not an Englishman, but a Poitevin.-Life:...
, Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
Gray's ability to raise money made him useful to King John. In 1213, Gray mustered 500 knights during a period when King Philip II was threatening to invade England. When John and the pope concluded the treaty where John gave England to the pope and received it back as a vassal, John de Gray was one of the witnesses to the treaty. After John settled with the papacy, Gray was not included in the general pardon, and had to go to Rome to receive a pardon. After obtaining a pardon, Pope Innocent III recommended Gray's election as Bishop of Durham in 1213; but he died while returning to England at Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Saint-Jean-d'Angély is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.The commune has its historical origins in the Abbey of Saint-Jean-d'Angély.-Royal abbey:...
in Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
on 18 October 1214. He was buried in Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
.
As bishop, Gray settled a long running dispute between the monks of his cathedral chapter and the bishops.
Gray was the uncle of Walter de Gray, Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and Lord Chancellor from 1215 to 1255.