Alexander of Lincoln

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Alexander of Lincoln


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Lincoln
Title = Bishop of Lincoln
Period = 1123–1148
Predecessor = Robert Bloet
Successor =Robert de Chesney
ordination =
bishops =
post =Archdeacon of Salisbury
date of birth =
place of birth =Blois, France
date of death =February 1148
place of death =Normandy

Alexander of Lincoln (Latin: Alexander Lincolniensis) (died in early 1148), bishop of Lincoln, was born in Blois, France.

Life

He was nephew to the famous Roger, bishop of Salisbury. His brother David was archdeacon of Buckingham in the diocese of Lincoln. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33560 British History Online Bishops of Lincoln] accessed on October 28, 2007] He was an archdeacon in the diocese of Salisbury by 1121, under his uncle. While he was archdeacon, he was credited with a writing a glossary of Old English legal terms in the Anglo Norman language. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34224 British History Online Archdeacons in Salisbury] accessed on October 28, 2007]

He was nominated to the see of Lincoln in April of 1123 and was consecrated bishop on July 22 1123Powicke "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 235] at Canterbury. He founded a number of monasteries, including Haverholme Priory, Dorchester on Thames, Louth Park, and Thame.Burton "Monastic and Religious Orders" p. 229] He also built castles at Newark, Sleaford and Banbury. This castle-building excited the jealousy of King Stephen, who - successfully besieging him at Newark - imprisoned him. Alexander, after some months, obtained his freedom by giving up to the king his castles and his treasures.

In 1142 he went to Rome, whence he returned to England as a papal legate. He rebuilt his cathedral at Lincoln in 1145 after it had been destroyed or damaged by fire. He was also an encourager of literature, and the patron of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who says of him, in the Introduction to the "Prophecies of Merlin": "Non erat alter in clero sive in populo cui tot famularentur nobiles, quos ipsius mansueta pietas et benigna largitas in obsequium ejus alliciebat." (There was none other among the clergy or the people whom so many nobles served - he charmed them into loyalty to him because of his own piety and lavish generosity.)Fact|date=June 2008 Alexander commissioned Geoffrey to compose the "Prophecies of Merlin".Williams "English and the Norman Conquest" p. 217]

In February of 1148 he died in his native country, Normandy, when on his return from a second journey to Rome. He was buried at Lincoln on February 25 1148.

ee also

* List of bishops of Lincoln and precursor offices

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34224 British History Online Archdeacons in Salisbury] accessed on October 28, 2007
* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33560 British History Online Bishops of Lincoln] accessed on October 28, 2007
*
* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
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Persondata
NAME=Alexander of Lincoln
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Lincoln
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=February 1148
PLACE OF DEATH=