Rainulf Flambard

Rainulf , called Rainulf Flambard , born towards 1060 and died the September 5th 1128, was bishop of Durham and Ministre of the government of William Rufus.

Wire of a Norman priest of the diocese of Bayeux, it recently leaves young person for the England conquered by the duke Normandy become king d' Angleterre, William the Conqueror. Protected from the uterine brother of this last, the bishop Odon of Bayeux, it becomes as of 1086, clerk with the chancellery of the Anglo-Norman court where it is pointed out like courtier. Hated Norman barons who called it “Flambard” in reference to his leaning to sow the discord, it acquires nevertheless a reputation of clever financier and seems to have played a big role in the compilation of the Domesday Book where it itself is mentioned like holding grounds in the Hampshire and the Oxfordshire. Before the death of the old king, he became chaplain of the bishop of London, under which he had formerly been used for the chancellery.

Under the king William Rufus, it is, in spite of its manners more than doubtful (according to Orderic Vital, which is not impartial), in charge with finances and the justice of the kingdom. Its name is regularly associated by the chroniclers of the time with the embezzlements from which suffered all the classes between 1087 and 1100. Rainulf benefits amply by perceiving for the king a great proportion from the ecclesiastical benefit maintained vacant in an illegal way. Itself controls sixteen abbeys personally or évêchés. It obtains for itself the rich person évêché of Durham in 1099 before being dislocated in 1101 of its functions and imprisoned by the new king Henri Beauclerc, brother and successor of Guillaume, for embezzlement. It succeeds in nevertheless escaping from the Tour of London - in the history of the Tower to only be parvenu there - where it was retained thanks to accomplices and will take refuge in Normandy where it serves the duke Robert Courteheuse, brother of Beauclerc, like advising and managed the diocese of Lisieux.

Like advising of Robert Courteheuse, he persuades this last, which rewards it while entrusting to him évêché for Lisieux, to dispute the right of his Henri brother to the crown of England. Robert invades England in 1101, but after its defeat vis-a-vis his/her brother with the Bataille of Tinchebray in 1106, it agrees by the Traité of Alton to give up its claim the throne. Flambard is among the first to make its peace with king Henri and turns over on the other side of the channel where it recovers his fields and évêché which it had acquired in 1099.

It passes the remainder of its life to Durham, scandalizing the local Clergé by its private life. It has at least two wire, for which it acquires ecclesiastical benefit before their adolescence. In spite of the scandalous stories concerning the orgies with which it occupies its retirement, it is also distinguished as a builder and a founder from pious establishments. It completes the cathedral of Durham that its predecessor, Guillaume de Saint Carilef, had started. It consolidates Durham, builds the castle of Norham, founds the priory of Mottisfont and equips the University with Christchurch.

It was buried in the cathedral of Durham.

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