Robert de Chauncy
Encyclopedia
Robert de Chuancy was a medieval Bishop of Carlisle
.
, from which he took his name. Beyond the fact that he was illegitimate, nothing else is known of his background. He was probably controller of the queen's wardrobe for Queen Eleanor
by April 1243. He was named rector of Badsworth
on 26 January 1255 and was named as Archdeacon of Bath between 26 January 1255 and 22 January 1257
Following the death of Thomas Vipont
, the cathedral chapter
of Carlisle Cathedral
first elected Robert of St Agatha, who refused the office. The chapter then elected Chauncy, who was a royal clerk as well as holding the above ecclesiastical offices. He was elected to the see of Carlisle about 12 February 1257, and consecrated on 14 April 1258. He received a dispensation
for illegitimacy from Pope Alexander IV
on 19 June 1257.
Chauncy remained in the king's service, and went with the king to France in 1259. He was also with the king when Henry was held captive by Simon de Montfort
in 1264. However, he never gained the favor of King Edward I
, Henry's successor, although he served for two years at the start of his reign as Sheriff of Cumberland
. Chauncy was active in the affairs of his diocese, working to improve the morals of the laity and the clergy alike. He died in September or October 1278. He was buried in Carlisle Cathedral, and his tomb survived the fire in that church in 1292.
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
.
Life
Chauncy's family probably came from Chawreth in EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, from which he took his name. Beyond the fact that he was illegitimate, nothing else is known of his background. He was probably controller of the queen's wardrobe for Queen Eleanor
Eleanor of Provence
Eleanor of Provence was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Henry III of England from 1236 until his death in 1272....
by April 1243. He was named rector of Badsworth
Badsworth
Badsworth is a village and civil parish in the City of Wakefield metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 583. The village is located south of Pontefract....
on 26 January 1255 and was named as Archdeacon of Bath between 26 January 1255 and 22 January 1257
Following the death of Thomas Vipont
Thomas Vipont
-Life:Vipont was a member of the family of the lords of Westmoreland but attained a magister degree from the schools. He was rector of Greystoke before he was elected bishop about September 1254, and consecrated on 7 February 1255...
, the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of Carlisle Cathedral
Carlisle Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, otherwise called Carlisle Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle. It is located in Carlisle, in Cumbria, North West England...
first elected Robert of St Agatha, who refused the office. The chapter then elected Chauncy, who was a royal clerk as well as holding the above ecclesiastical offices. He was elected to the see of Carlisle about 12 February 1257, and consecrated on 14 April 1258. He received a dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
for illegitimacy from Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV was Pope from 1254 until his death.Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne , he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX...
on 19 June 1257.
Chauncy remained in the king's service, and went with the king to France in 1259. He was also with the king when Henry was held captive by Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
in 1264. However, he never gained the favor of King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, Henry's successor, although he served for two years at the start of his reign as Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. Chauncy was active in the affairs of his diocese, working to improve the morals of the laity and the clergy alike. He died in September or October 1278. He was buried in Carlisle Cathedral, and his tomb survived the fire in that church in 1292.