Robert Capellanus
Encyclopedia
Robert Capellanus was a chaplain
of King William I of Scotland
and afterwards, Bishop of Ross
(1214–1249).
On 25 February 1213, he witnessed a confirmation of the properties of Arbroath Abbey
as Roberto Capellano domini regis, "Robert Chaplain of the lord king". King William had had another chaplain called Robert who became Archdeacon of Glasgow
1195 × 1196, but although neither used surnames, it is certain that they were not the same men. It would probably be possible to know more about Robert if he had used a surname, but as it happens his details are lost in the those large number of Norman
and Anglo-Norman
incomers in William's reign using that name.
After reporting the death of the previous Bishop of Ross, Reinald Macer
, the Chronicle of Melrose
related that:
's refusal to accept his own election had led thus to the elevation of the king's chaplain. This election occurred before the death of King William on 4 December 1214. Robert's name occurred as "bishop-elect" on 17 February 1215, but he is a consecrated bishop by 7 July, meaning he had received consecration between these respective dates.
Robert appeared on various documents during the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland
; he appeared on 30 March 1226, again on 1 February 1227, and on 30 June 1228. Pope Gregory IX
issued, on 29 May 1235, Robert the authority to increase the number of cathedral
prebends, augment existing prebends and expand his cathedral. This mandate was repeated, in an expanded form, in 1256, for his successor. According to Professor Donald Watt
, it may have been this bishop rather than Robert II
whom Bower remembered as the builder of Ross cathedral. Robert Capellanus appears to have died in 1249.
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of King William I of Scotland
William I of Scotland
William the Lion , sometimes styled William I, also known by the nickname Garbh, "the Rough", reigned as King of the Scots from 1165 to 1214...
and afterwards, Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
(1214–1249).
On 25 February 1213, he witnessed a confirmation of the properties of Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath Abbey, in the Scottish town of Arbroath, was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197 with a dedication to the deceased Saint Thomas Becket, whom the king had met at the English court...
as Roberto Capellano domini regis, "Robert Chaplain of the lord king". King William had had another chaplain called Robert who became Archdeacon of Glasgow
Archdeacon of Glasgow
The Archdeacon of Glasgow was the head of the Archdeaconry of Glasgow, a sub-division of the Diocese of Glasgow. He was one of two archdeacons serving the Bishop of Glasgow, the other one being the Archdeacon of Teviotdale. This archdeacon was responsible for region of the Diocese of Glasgow...
1195 × 1196, but although neither used surnames, it is certain that they were not the same men. It would probably be possible to know more about Robert if he had used a surname, but as it happens his details are lost in the those large number of Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and Anglo-Norman
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...
incomers in William's reign using that name.
After reporting the death of the previous Bishop of Ross, Reinald Macer
Reinald Macer
Reinald Macer [also called Reginald] was a medieval Cistercian monk and bishop, active in the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of William the Lion. Originally a monk of Melrose Abbey, he rose to become Bishop of Ross in 1195, and held this position until his death in 1213...
, the Chronicle of Melrose
Chronicle of Melrose
The Chronicle of Melrose is a medieval chronicle from the Cottonian Manuscript, Faustina B. ix within the British Museum. It was written by unknown authors, though evidence in the writing shows that it most likely was written by the monks at Melrose Abbey. The chronicle begins on the year 735 and...
related that:
Andreas de Moravia
electus est magister Andreas de Mureuia, qui renuens episcopari, quesita licencia a dompno papa, tante dignitatis honorem humiliter resignavit; loco cujus subrogatur Robertus capellanus domini W[illelmi] regis Scottorum. master Andreas de Mureuia was elected: but refusing to be bishop, he sought permission from the lord pope, and humbly resigned the honour of so great a dignity. Robert, the chaplain of the lord William, king of the Scots, was put in his place.
Andreas de Moravia
Andreas de Moravia was a 13th century Scottish bishop. He may have been from the "de Moravia" family of Flemish origin who were lords of Duffus and other areas in the Greater Moray region in this period. In the time of Bishop Bricius' episcopate , there was a man called "Andreas" who was rector of...
's refusal to accept his own election had led thus to the elevation of the king's chaplain. This election occurred before the death of King William on 4 December 1214. Robert's name occurred as "bishop-elect" on 17 February 1215, but he is a consecrated bishop by 7 July, meaning he had received consecration between these respective dates.
Robert appeared on various documents during the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
; he appeared on 30 March 1226, again on 1 February 1227, and on 30 June 1228. Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
issued, on 29 May 1235, Robert the authority to increase the number of cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
prebends, augment existing prebends and expand his cathedral. This mandate was repeated, in an expanded form, in 1256, for his successor. According to Professor Donald Watt
D. E. R. Watt
Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt FRSE was a Scottish historian and Professor Emeritus at St Andrews University....
, it may have been this bishop rather than Robert II
Robert (d. 1271)
Robert was a 13th century prelate based in the Kingdom of Scotland. He was successively Archdeacon of Ross and Bishop of Ross; he is the second Robert to have held the bishopric of Ross....
whom Bower remembered as the builder of Ross cathedral. Robert Capellanus appears to have died in 1249.