Life

Nothing is known of Simon's early life beyond the fact that he was a native of southern Italy and that he was a canon lawyer and a magister.

Simon was 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 the cathedral chapter of York sometime before being named Chancellor of the cathedral and then Dean of York

Dean of York

The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...

 in January 1194 after a lengthy election dispute. Originally, Geoffrey, Archbishop of York

Geoffrey, Archbishop of York

Geoffrey was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England, who became Bishop-elect of Lincoln and Archbishop of York. The identity of his mother is uncertain, but she may have been named Ykenai...

 had wanted his brother Peter as dean, but then suggested Simon, who refused to give up his office of chancellor. Geoffrey then selected Philip of Poitou

Philip of Poitou

Philip of Poitou was Prince-Bishop of Durham from 1197 to 1208, and prior to this Archdeacon of Canterbury.- Life :...

, but the cathedral chapter wanted Simon, and all parties appealed to Rome. He was appointed Dean of York by Pope Celestine III

Pope Celestine III

Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...

.

Simon was elected to the see of Exeter about 13 April 1214 and consecrated on 5 October 1214. The see had been vacant since 1206 when Henry Marshal

Henry Marshal

Henry Marshal was a medieval Bishop of Exeter.-Life:Marshal was a younger son of John Marshal and Sybilla, the sister of the earl of Salisbury, Patrick. This made him a younger brother of William Marshal, the advisor to Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III...

 the previous bishop had died. However, because of King John of England

John of England

John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...

's dispute 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....

, the vacancy was not filled until a settlement was reached between John and Innocent. Simon was consecrated by Archbishop 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...

 at Canterbury.

Simon attended the Fourth Lateran Council, but was back in England in time to take part in King Henry III

Henry III of England

Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...

's coronation on 28 October 1216. Very little of his administrative records survive, only a few documents are still extant. Simon did set out the boundaries of the parishes in the city of Exeter. He was also a benefactor to his cathedral, giving it vestments and other ornaments.

Simon died on 9 September 1223. He was buried in Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....

 in the lady chapel. His nephew, also named Simon, was named archdeacon of Cornwall from 1218 to 1221.

External links

• George Oliver
  George Oliver (historian)
  George Oliver was an English Roman Catholic priest and historian of the Exeter area.-Life:He was born at Newington, Surrey, on 9 February 1781, and was educated, first at Sedgley Park School, Staffordshire, and afterwards at Stonyhurst College...
  
  , Lives of the Bishops of Exeter, entry for Simon
• Tomb in Exeter Cathedral
• List of Manuscripts