Yves of Bellême, Bishop of Sées (1035-1070)

Yves of Bellême was an example of a warrior bishop of the 11^th century, and was the son of William I Talvas, lord of Bellême. Yves was involved in the violent events that set the family of Bellême against its neighbours and caused internal dissension. Sées was considered by the family of Bellême to be part of their patrimony. Yves became Bishop of Sées at an uncertain date between 1032 and 1046, and also assumed the lordship of Bellême following a conflict between his brother William II and the latter’s son, Arnulf, who was assassinated in 1048. In an episode during these conflicts Yves himself set fire to the cathedral to drive out his enemies, and, at the Council of Reims in 1049 had to promise to rebuild it. He then set off for southern Italy and then Constantinople, where his family and allies were to be found, and brought back the money needed to rebuild the cathedral, as well as a relic of the True Cross. Having been started in c.1053, the new cathedral was not completed until the 12^th century. On his death, Yves’ sister Mabel and her husband Roger of Montgomery inherited the lordship of Bellême.

Bibliography :

- François Neveux. - La Normandie des ducs aux rois, Xe-XIIe s. - Rennes : Ouest-France, 1998.
- Les évêques normands du XIe s. : actes du colloque de Cerisy-la-Salle (30 septembre - 3 octobre 1993), publiés sous la dir. de Pierre Bouet et François Neveux. - Caen : Presses Universitaires de Caen, 1993.
- Gérard Louise. - La seigneurie de Bellême, Xe-XIIe s. - Flers : Le Pays d'Argentan, n° 199-200, 1990 & 201-202, 1991.