Walter Capellanus
Encyclopedia
Walter Capellanus was an important cleric and politician
in the Kingdom of Scotland
during the reigns of kings William the Lion
and Alexander II
.
Walter was chaplain
(capellanus) of King William the Lion, and after the resignation of the unconsecrated Bishop Florence of Glasgow
, received the king's support for the vacant episcopal office. On 7 December 1207 he was elected to the see
, and consecrated to it at Glasgow
on 2 November 1208. In 1215, Walter was one of three Scottish bishops to attend the Fourth Lateran Council
at Rome
(the other two were William de Malveisin
, bishop of St Andrews and Bricius, bishop of Moray
). He returned to Rome in 1218, as part of a delegation of three Scottish bishops, including Bricius of Moray, and Adam
, bishop of Caithness
, in order to obtain absolution from Pope Honorius III
for the sentence of excommunication
imposed on King Alexander II
and the whole Kingdom of Scotland
. The mission was successful, and Honorius granted absolution. In 1219, however, Walter found himself in some trouble. A canon
of Glasgow, a Master William, told the papacy that Walter's election was uncanonical, and that when he was chaplain to the king, he had given the royal Chamberlain
Philip de Valone 100 merks and a promise to pay the Queen, Ermengarde de Beaumont
, even more in exchange for the bishopric of Glasgow. Furthermore, Walter was accused of nepotism
and maintaining an immoral household. The Pope commission one of his legates, Cardinal Pandulf Masca, Bishop-elect of Norwich
, to investigate. Nothing more is heard of the case.
Walter died sometime in the year 1232, sometime after 19 May when he granted a charter to Kelso Abbey
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
during the reigns of kings William the Lion
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 Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
.
Walter was chaplain
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...
(capellanus) of King William the Lion, and after the resignation of the unconsecrated Bishop Florence of Glasgow
Florence of Holland
Florence was a late 12th century and early 13th century nobleman and cleric.He was the son of Florence III, Count of Holland and Ada of Huntingdon, sister of Kings Malcolm IV of Scotland and William I....
, received the king's support for the vacant episcopal office. On 7 December 1207 he was elected to the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
, and consecrated to it at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 2 November 1208. In 1215, Walter was one of three Scottish bishops to attend the Fourth Lateran Council
Fourth Council of the Lateran
The Fourth Council of the Lateran was convoked by Pope Innocent III with the papal bull of April 19, 1213, and the Council gathered at Rome's Lateran Palace beginning November 11, 1215. Due to the great length of time between the Council's convocation and meeting, many bishops had the opportunity...
at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(the other two were William de Malveisin
William de Malveisin
Guillaume or William de Malveisin was Chancellor of Scotland, Bishop of Glasgow and then Bishop of St. Andrews .William Malveisin was probably born in France...
, bishop of St Andrews and Bricius, bishop of Moray
Bishop of Moray
The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...
). He returned to Rome in 1218, as part of a delegation of three Scottish bishops, including Bricius of Moray, and Adam
Adam of Melrose
Adam of Melrose was Abbot of Melrose and Bishop of Caithness, famously burned to death by the husbandmen of Caithness.He rose to the position of Abbot in 1207, and on 5 August 1213, was elected to the bishopric of Caithness, then based at Halkirk. On 11 May 1214, he was consecrated by William de...
, bishop of Caithness
Bishop of Caithness
The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Aindréas spent much if not all of his career outside his...
, in order to obtain absolution from Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
for the sentence of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
imposed on King Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
and the whole Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. The mission was successful, and Honorius granted absolution. In 1219, however, Walter found himself in some trouble. 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 Glasgow, a Master William, told the papacy that Walter's election was uncanonical, and that when he was chaplain to the king, he had given the royal Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
Philip de Valone 100 merks and a promise to pay the Queen, Ermengarde de Beaumont
Ermengarde de Beaumont
Ermengarde de Beaumont , was a Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Scotland.-Life:Ermengarde was born c. 1170 to Richard I, Viscount de Beaumont-le-Vicomte, de Fresnay et de Ste-Suzanne , and wife Lucie de l'Aigle , daughter of Richard II de l'Aigle...
, even more in exchange for the bishopric of Glasgow. Furthermore, Walter was accused of nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
and maintaining an immoral household. The Pope commission one of his legates, Cardinal Pandulf Masca, Bishop-elect 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...
, to investigate. Nothing more is heard of the case.
Walter died sometime in the year 1232, sometime after 19 May when he granted a charter to Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey is what remains of a Scottish abbey founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I. It occupies ground overlooking the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot waters, the site of what was once the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
.