Robert de Limesey
Encyclopedia
Robert de Limesey was a medieval Bishop of Chester
. He moved the see from Chester to Coventry
in 1102.
Robert was a chaplain to King William I of England
before the king nominated Robert to the see of Chester on 25 December 1085. He may have come from a baronial family, as his surname derives from a territorial location. Robert was consecrated in 1086. At some point during the last years of Archbishop Lanfranc
of Canterbury, Robert took over the abbey of Coventry as the seat of his bishopric, and managed to establish himself there permanently after Lanfranc's death. Coventry was a wealthy abbey, richer than Chester, and by making Coventry the cathedral, Robert increased the revenue of his see by a large amount.
In 1102, Robert was one of the bishops, along with Gerard, Archbishop of York and Herbert de Losinga
, the Bishop of Norwich
, who returned from Rome and told King Henry I of England
that Pope Paschal II
had told them privately that Henry could invest bishops as in the past, provided they were good men. This was during the height of the Investiture Crisis, and the pope later denied the story. Robert had been part of a royal delegation to the papal curia to seek a resolution to the dispute between the king and archbishop Anselm of Canterbury
over lay investiture. Robert also had business of his own at Rome, as he had sought permission from the pope to relocate his see from Chester
to Coventry. Robert's effort to secure papal permission for the relocation of his see was successful. But, not only did the pope deny Robert's story, Pascal excommunicated all three bishops. Along with William Giffard
, the Bishop of Winchester
, Samson
, the Bishop of Worcester
, Ralph Luffa, the Bishop of Chichester
, Archbishop Gerard, the Archbishop of York, and Herbert de Losinga, Robert in 1106 wrote to Anselm, who was then in exile over the investiture crisis, asking the archbishop to return to England. In 1106, with the settlement between the pope and the king, the pope pardoned Robert and the other bishops.
Robert died on 1 September 1117.
Bishop of Chester
The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.The diocese expands across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the City of Chester where the seat is located at the Cathedral...
. He moved the see from Chester to Coventry
Bishop of Coventry
The Bishop of Coventry is the Ordinary of the England Diocese of Coventry in the Province of Canterbury. In the Middle Ages, the Bishop of Coventry was a title used by the bishops known today as the Bishop of Lichfield....
in 1102.
Robert was a chaplain to King William I of England
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
before the king nominated Robert to the see of Chester on 25 December 1085. He may have come from a baronial family, as his surname derives from a territorial location. Robert was consecrated in 1086. At some point during the last years of 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...
of Canterbury, Robert took over the abbey of Coventry as the seat of his bishopric, and managed to establish himself there permanently after Lanfranc's death. Coventry was a wealthy abbey, richer than Chester, and by making Coventry the cathedral, Robert increased the revenue of his see by a large amount.
In 1102, Robert was one of the bishops, along with Gerard, Archbishop of York and Herbert de Losinga
Herbert de Losinga
Herbert de Losinga was the first Bishop of Norwich. He founded Norwich Cathedral in 1096 when he was Bishop of Thetford.-Life:...
, the Bishop of Norwich
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...
, who returned from Rome and told 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...
that Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
had told them privately that Henry could invest bishops as in the past, provided they were good men. This was during the height of the Investiture Crisis, and the pope later denied the story. Robert had been part of a royal delegation to the papal curia to seek a resolution to the dispute between the king and archbishop Anselm of Canterbury
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...
over lay investiture. Robert also had business of his own at Rome, as he had sought permission from the pope to relocate his see from Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
to Coventry. Robert's effort to secure papal permission for the relocation of his see was successful. But, not only did the pope deny Robert's story, Pascal excommunicated all three bishops. Along with William Giffard
William Giffard
William Giffard was the Lord Chancellor of England of William II and Henry I, from 1093 to 1101.Giffard was the brother of Walter Giffard earl of Buckingham. He also held the office of Dean of Rouen prior to his election as bishop. On 3 August 1100 he became bishop of Winchester by nomination of...
, the 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...
, Samson
Samson, Bishop of Worcester
Samson was a medieval English clergyman.-Life:Samson was a Royal Chaplain and a canon and Treasurer of the diocese of Bayeux....
, the Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, Ralph Luffa, the Bishop of Chichester
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
, Archbishop Gerard, the Archbishop of York, and Herbert de Losinga, Robert in 1106 wrote to Anselm, who was then in exile over the investiture crisis, asking the archbishop to return to England. In 1106, with the settlement between the pope and the king, the pope pardoned Robert and the other bishops.
Robert died on 1 September 1117.