Kingisel
Encyclopedia
Kingisel is the name of two non-consecutive Roman Catholic abbots who ruled Glastonbury abbey
in the seventh and eighth centuries respectively.
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
in the seventh and eighth centuries respectively.
- Kingisel I, whose name also appears as Hemgisel, Hengislus, and Hanigestus, became abbot in 678. According to William of MalmesburyWilliam of MalmesburyWilliam of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
it was during his first year of office that King Kentwine granted six hides to the abbey upon condition that the monks should always have the right of freely electing their abbot according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. In 681 King Baldred granted to him and his successors the manor of Pennard near Glastonbury; in this charter, which is given by William DugdaleWilliam DugdaleSir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
from the Ashmolean Manuscript, the abbot's name is spelled differently in two sentences, a slip which has led Thomas TannerThomas Tanner (bishop)Thomas Tanner was an English antiquary and prelate.-Life:He was born at Market Lavington in Wiltshire, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford, taking holy orders in 1694...
(Notitia Monastica) and Charles EystonCharles EystonCharles Eyston was an English antiquary.As a scholar he became a friend of Thomas Hearne, who wrote of him: "He was a Roman Catholick and so charitable to the poor that he is lamented by all who knew anything of him . .....
(Little Monument) to suppose that two different persons were referred to. It was during the reign of this abbot that King InaInaIňa is a village and municipality in the Levice District in the Nitra Region of Slovakia.-History:In historical records the village was first mentioned in extant historical literature in the year 1156 AD.-Geography:...
began his series of munificent benefactions to the abbey. Kingisel I died in the year 705 and was succeeded by BerwaldBerwaldBerwald is surname of:* Franz Adolf Berwald , a Swedish Romantic composer* Berwaldhallen, named after Franz Berwald* Johan Fredrik Berwald , a Swedish violinist, conductor and composer...
.
- Kingisel II, whose name is also found as Cingislus, Cengillus, and Hengissingus, was apparently fourth abbot after his namesake; he succeeded to the position in the year 729 and died in 744. William of Malmesbury states that Ina's successor, king Edelard, made him grants of land, and the Ashmolean manuscript gives a charter of Cudred, or Cuthred, King of the West Saxons, which confirms to the abbey all the previous grants made to it. In this charter the name is spelled Hengisilus. His successor was Cumbertus. Almost the only record of these abbots consists in the various charters in which they are named. The question as to the genuineness of these early charters is a difficult one, but it may be safely said that at the present day the general trend of opinion is more favourable to them than was the case in 1826, at which date, however, Warner, in his "History of the Abbey of Glaston," wrote concerning Ina's charter, "The reasons for questioning its genuineness do not appear to be serious.