The
birth of Normandy was marked by the baptism of the first Duke, Rollo, in 912.
This baptism was arranged and carried out by the Archbishop of Rouen. From that
time onwards, the Christian dukes drew support from the Church and its bishops.
It was necessary, however, to wait until the end of the 10th century
for all the episcopal seats to be filled once more (following the interruption
due to the Scandinavian invasions).
Bishops
at that time were often chosen from members of the ducal family, such as Robert,
Archbishop of Rouen (989-1037) and brother of Richard II, Mauger, his successor
(1037-1055), Hugh of Bayeux (1011-1049) and Odo of Conteville who was also
Bishop of Bayeux (1049-1097) and William the Conqueror's half-brother. Other
bishops were attached to the major aristocratic families, such as Yves of
Bellême, Bishop of Sées (1035-1070), William Fleitel, Bishop of Évreux
(1046-1066), and Hugh of Eu, Bishop of Lisieux (1049-1077). These bishops were
not generally particularly religious. They lived like grand aristocrats,
ignoring chastity, and enjoying hunting and warfare. It is certain that two
bishops fought at the Battle of Hastings: Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Montbray,
Bishop of Coutances (1049-1093).
These
bishops were princes of the church, and did not conform any longer to the new
model of bishop extolled by those popes who were supporters of the "Gregorian
reform". Duke William himself, however, emerged as a supporter of reform.
In 1055, he replaced the unworthy Mauger with a monk, Archbishop Maurille
(1055-1067). The reforming bishops were much more numerous in the 12th
century. One of these was Hugh of Amiens (1129-1164) who acted in support of the
new canonical orders, the Augustinians and the Premonstratensians, another was
Arnoul of Lisieux (1141-1181) who reformed his diocese, but ended up in conflict
with King Henry II. Until 1204 the Norman bishops wished, on the one hand, to
carry out reform but, on the other, they had to accept the desire of the dukes
to retain power over the Norman church.
François Neveux
ouen - Office
universitaire d'études normandes
Université de Caen
The Princes of the Church
