Herfast

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Herfast
Denomination Catholic
Senior posting
See Diocese of Elmham
moved see to Diocese of Thetford
Title Bishop of Elmham
moved see to Bishop of Thetford
Period in office 1070–c1085
Predecessor Æthelmaer
Successor William de Beaufeu
Personal
Date of death c1085

Herfast (or Arfast) (d. 1085) was a medieval Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Elmham.

[edit] Life

Born in Normandy, France, he joined William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England, and was appointed head of the royal writing office after the Battle of Hastings. He was Lord Chancellor of England from 1068 to 1070.[1] After serving as Lord Chancellor, he was consecrated Bishop of Elmham in 1070, but about May 27, 1072 he moved the see to Thetford, thus becoming Bishop of Thetford.[2] He had a conflict with the Bury St. Edmunds Abbey, and when the case was brought forward, the Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranc ruled against Herfast. He signed the Accord of Winchester in 1072 and died in 1084.[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 81
  2. ^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 223
  3. ^ British History Online Bishops of Norwich accessed on October 29, 2007
Political offices
Preceded by
first Norman Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
10681070
Succeeded by
Osmund
Religious titles
Preceded by
Æthelmaer
Bishop of Elmham
moved the see to Bishop of Thetford 1072

1070–c1085
Succeeded by
William de Beaufeu
Persondata
NAME Herfast
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Arfast
SHORT DESCRIPTION Bishop of Elmham; Bishop of Thetford; Lord Chancellor of England
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH circa 1085
PLACE OF DEATH