Robert of Hereford
Encyclopedia
Robert of Hereford was a priest who became Bishop of Hereford
following the Norman Conquest of England
.
and probably a canon
of Liège Cathedral
before coming to England, and may have been educated at the cathedral school there also. The school at Liege specialized in mathematics, which later became a specialty of Robert's. His name is often given as Robert Losinga, but the earliest evidence gives it as Robert the Lotharingian. His birthdate is unknown, but it was probably before 1049.
Robert may have arrived in England by the 1050s, or perhaps after the Norman Conquest. Arguments have been presented on both sides. King William I of England
's appointment of Robert was somewhat unusual, not just because he was not a Norman, but because he was not a religious scholar, but was an astronomer and mathematician. Robert was ordained as a priest by Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester
sometime before 29 December 1079. Robert was consecrated as the Bishop of Hereford by Lanfranc
on 29 December 1079 at Canterbury.
Robert brought the chronicle
of Marianus Scotus
to England, but it had little effect on historical writing in England, beyond the use that Florence of Worcester
made of it. Robert inserted into his own copy of Marianus, a notice about the Domesday Book
survey, that is one of the best sources for information on the process of Domesday. His only other work that survives is a small introduction to Marianus' chronicle that corrects a few errors and discusses computation. He was also known as a mathematician and astrologer, and brought continental learning into his diocese. He was also familiar with the abacus
, and some historians feel he helped introduce it into England. Others, though, disagree and feel that the use of the abacus was known before this time in England. He was good friends with Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester and it was Robert that buried the future saint. It may be that Robert gave Wulfstan a copy of Marianus' chronicle, which allowed the monks at Worcester to use it in their own works. Robert was also friends with Osmund, who was Bishop of Salisbury
.
Robert was present at the Council of Rockingham in February 1095, which dealt with the conflict between King William II of England
and Anselm
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
. Robert sided with the king against the archbishop. Afterwards, however, Robert and Osmund, the Bishop of Salisbury, were reconciled with Anselm.
Robert died on 26 June 1095. He was buried in Hereford Cathedral
. He built a chapel at Hereford Cathedral, basing it on the church at Aachen
. This was a two-tier chapel of a type reserved for royalty or archbishops in Germany. He also improved the financial condition of his diocese, although it remained poor.
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
following the Norman Conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
.
Life
Robert was a native of LorraineLorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
and probably a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral, otherwise St. Paul's Cathedral, Liège, in Liège, Belgium, is the seat of the Bishopric of Liège.-St. Paul's Cathedral:...
before coming to England, and may have been educated at the cathedral school there also. The school at Liege specialized in mathematics, which later became a specialty of Robert's. His name is often given as Robert Losinga, but the earliest evidence gives it as Robert the Lotharingian. His birthdate is unknown, but it was probably before 1049.
Robert may have arrived in England by the 1050s, or perhaps after the Norman Conquest. Arguments have been presented on both sides. 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...
's appointment of Robert was somewhat unusual, not just because he was not a Norman, but because he was not a religious scholar, but was an astronomer and mathematician. Robert was ordained as a priest by Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester
Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester
Wulfstan , Bishop of Worcester, was the last surviving pre-Conquest bishop and the only English-born bishop after 1075. Wulfstan is a Christian saint.-Denomination:His denomination as Wulfstan II is to indicate that he is the second Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester...
sometime before 29 December 1079. Robert was consecrated as the Bishop of Hereford by 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...
on 29 December 1079 at Canterbury.
Robert brought the chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
of Marianus Scotus
Marianus Scotus
Marianus Scotus , was an Irish monk and chronicler , was an Irishman by birth, and called Máel Brigte, or Devotee of St...
to England, but it had little effect on historical writing in England, beyond the use that Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
made of it. Robert inserted into his own copy of Marianus, a notice about the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
survey, that is one of the best sources for information on the process of Domesday. His only other work that survives is a small introduction to Marianus' chronicle that corrects a few errors and discusses computation. He was also known as a mathematician and astrologer, and brought continental learning into his diocese. He was also familiar with the abacus
Abacus
The abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes. Today, abaci are often constructed as a bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires, but originally they were beans or stones moved in grooves in sand or on tablets of...
, and some historians feel he helped introduce it into England. Others, though, disagree and feel that the use of the abacus was known before this time in England. He was good friends with Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester and it was Robert that buried the future saint. It may be that Robert gave Wulfstan a copy of Marianus' chronicle, which allowed the monks at Worcester to use it in their own works. Robert was also friends with Osmund, who was Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
.
Robert was present at the Council of Rockingham in February 1095, which dealt with the conflict between King William II of England
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
and 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...
, the 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...
. Robert sided with the king against the archbishop. Afterwards, however, Robert and Osmund, the Bishop of Salisbury, were reconciled with Anselm.
Robert died on 26 June 1095. He was buried in Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
. He built a chapel at Hereford Cathedral, basing it on the church at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. This was a two-tier chapel of a type reserved for royalty or archbishops in Germany. He also improved the financial condition of his diocese, although it remained poor.