Roger de Beaumont (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Roger de Beaumont was Bishop of St Andrews (Cell Rígmonaid) (elected 1189; consecrated 1198).
. Roger's position as a younger son of the Earl of Leicester
meant that Roger had to seek a fortune elsewhere, and did so withiin the church. Robert was a second cousin of William I of Scotland
, being the great-grandson and grandson of Elizabeth of Vermandois respectively. At Williiam's court Beaumont managed to obtain favour, eventually reaching the position of Chancellor of the King, a post which usually functioned as a prelude to ascending a high-ranking bishopric.
in April 1189, he was elected Bishop of St. Andrews. Roger, nevertheless, had to wait nine years for consecration, which was finally performed in 1198 at St. Andrews by the Bishop of Moray
and the Bishop of Aberdeen
.
During his time as Chancellor Beaumont had been party to the negotiations surrounding the nullification of the treaty of Falaise
, and had lobbied the Pope to secure the independence of the Scottish church from the claims of both Nidaros
and York
to superiority. These demands of the pope were both met, with Clement III
issuing a Bull
in 1188 confirming that church in Scotland was answerable only to the Holy See. The following year, 8 months after Beaumont's election as Bishop, the English King Richard I
nullified the Treaty of Falaise, and recognised the independence of the Church.
Bishop Roger, was witness to the foundation charter of Inchaffray Abbey
in 1200, as earlier he had been for the Abbey of Arbroath
in 1178, and it was during his tenure as Bishop that the first St Andrews Castle
was built as an episcopal palace.
His episcopate came to an end when he died at Cambuskenneth
on 7 July 1202. He was buried at St. Andrews. The next bishop of the see was William de Malveisin
.
Life
He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of LeicesterRobert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester was an English nobleman, one of the principal followers of Henry the Young King in the Revolt of 1173–1174 against his father Henry II...
. Roger's position as a younger son of the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
meant that Roger had to seek a fortune elsewhere, and did so withiin the church. Robert was a second cousin of William I of Scotland
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...
, being the great-grandson and grandson of Elizabeth of Vermandois respectively. At Williiam's court Beaumont managed to obtain favour, eventually reaching the position of Chancellor of the King, a post which usually functioned as a prelude to ascending a high-ranking bishopric.
Bishop of Saint Andrews
So it was that, at PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
in April 1189, he was elected Bishop of St. Andrews. Roger, nevertheless, had to wait nine years for consecration, which was finally performed in 1198 at St. Andrews by the 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...
and the Bishop of Aberdeen
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
.
During his time as Chancellor Beaumont had been party to the negotiations surrounding the nullification of the treaty of Falaise
Falaise
Falaise is the name of several communes in France:* Falaise, Ardennes* Falaise, Calvados** The Falaise pocket was the site of a battle in the Second World War* La Falaise, in the Yvelines département* The Falaise escarpment in Quebec City...
, and had lobbied the Pope to secure the independence of the Scottish church from the claims of both Nidaros
Archdiocese of Nidaros
The Archdiocese of Nidaros was the metropolitan see covering Norway in the later Middle Ages. The see was the Nidaros Cathedral, in the city of Nidaros...
and York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
to superiority. These demands of the pope were both met, with Clement III
Pope Clement III
Pope Clement III , born Paulino Scolari, was elected Pope on December 19, 1187 and reigned until his death.-Cardinal:...
issuing a Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
in 1188 confirming that church in Scotland was answerable only to the Holy See. The following year, 8 months after Beaumont's election as Bishop, the English King Richard I
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
nullified the Treaty of Falaise, and recognised the independence of the Church.
Bishop Roger, was witness to the foundation charter of Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey was situated by the village of Madderty, midway between Perth and Crieff in Strathearn, Scotland. The only trace now visible is an earth mound and some walls on the island where the abbey once stood.-History:...
in 1200, as earlier he had been for the Abbey of Arbroath
Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath Abbey, in the Scottish town of Arbroath, was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197 with a dedication to the deceased Saint Thomas Becket, whom the king had met at the English court...
in 1178, and it was during his tenure as Bishop that the first St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle
St Andrew's Castle is a picturesque ruin located in the coastal Royal Burgh of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. The castle sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger...
was built as an episcopal palace.
His episcopate came to an end when he died at Cambuskenneth
Cambuskenneth
Cambuskenneth is a village in the city of Stirling, located in central Scotland. It has a population of 250 and is the site of the historic Cambuskenneth Abbey. It is situated by the River Forth and the only road access to the village is along Ladysneuk Road from Alloa Road in Causewayhead...
on 7 July 1202. He was buried at St. Andrews. The next bishop of the see was 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...
.
Sources
- Cowan, Samuel, The Lord Chancellors of Scotland Edinburgh 1911. http://www.archive.org/stream/lordchancellorso01cowauoft#page/n7/mode/2up
- Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)