Remigius de Fécamp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Remigius de Fécamp (or just Remigius) (d. 1092) was a Benedictine monk who was a supporter of William the Conqueror. An almoner of Fécamp Abbey,^[1] he contributed one ship with twenty knights for the invasion of England by the Normans. He took part in the expedition, and was present at the Battle of Hastings.^[2] In reward for (other sources^[2] say the price of) his loyalty he was given the Bishopric of Dorchester in 1067,^[1] at that time the biggest diocese in England, stretching from the Humber to the Thames.

Remigius was consecrated by Stigand, then archbishop of Canterbury in 1067;^[3][1] according to his own account, he was unaware of the uncanonical character of Stigand's position. In spite of this flaw in his own consecration, Remigius was one of the bishops who consecrated Lanfranc on 29 August 1070. But when Thomas of York and Remigius accompanied Lanfranc to Rome in 1071, they were both suspended from their office by Alexander II. Remigius himself says that the reason for his suspension was his consecration by Stigand; but Eadmer, who is followed by William of Malmesbury, ascribes it to the charge of simony. Both accounts agree that Remigius was restored through the mediation of Lanfranc, to whom he then made his profession of obedience.^[2][1]

In the first years of his episcopate Remigius commenced to build on a worthy scale at Dorchester; but in 1072 a council held at Windsor ordered that bishops should fix their sees in cities instead of villages. In accordance with this decision, the Accord of Winchester, Remigius soon after transferred his see to Lincoln, reconstituting it as the diocese of Lincoln and becoming the first bishop of Lincoln. He received papal approval for the move before April 21, 1073.^[1] Some authorities put the date as late as 1086, when the change was completed. It is possible that Remigius was implicated in the rebellion of Ralph Guader in 1075, for Henry of Huntingdon says that he was accused of treason, but cleared by a servant, who went through ordeal for him. In 1076 Remigius made a second visit to Rome with Lanfranc. Ten years later he was one of the Domesday commissioners for Worcestershire.^[2]

To provide a new cathedra, he initiated the construction of Lincoln Cathedral on the castle hill. The work was completed in 1092, and Remigius proposed to have it consecrated. But he was opposed by Thomas of York, who renewed a claim to jurisdiction previously preferred and abandoned. Remigius, however, bribed King William Rufus, who ordered the bishops to assemble for the cathedral's consecration on 9 May. But three days previously, on Ascension day, 6 May, Remigius died without seeing the completion of his work.^[2] Some sources give his death date as May 8, but his death was commemorated on May 6.^[1] He was buried before the altar of the holy cross in the cathedral. His remains were translated in 1124, when they were, allegedly, found still incorrupt.^[2]

In about 1086 he was given the manor of 'Eslaford' (probably Sleaford) by the king.

Remigius had a great soul in a little body; William of Malmesbury adds that he was so small as to seem "pene portentum hominis"; Henry of Huntingdon that he was 'swarthy in hue, but comely in looks'; and though well acquainted with the bishop's contemporaries at Lincoln, he gives no hint as to special sanctity of character. The tradition of the saintliness of Remigius appears to have grown up at Lincoln in the course of the twelfth century. Giraldus Cambrensis says that miracles were worked at the bishop's tomb as early as 1124; but he no doubt wrote to order, to establish the bishop's fame as a local saint. Giraldus urged Hugh of Wells to procure the canonisation of Remigius, but this wish was never gratified. Matthew Paris, however, speaks of him as a saint, and records miracles that were worked at his tomb in 1253 and 1255. ^[2]

The west front of Lincoln Cathedral which is all that remains of Remigius' building work there.

Remigius built and endowed his cathedral at Lincoln on the model of Rouen, and established twenty-one canonries. It was injured by a fire in 1124, and almost destroyed by an earthquake in 1185. The only part which still exists is a portion of the west front, which is a fine specimen of early Norman work. Remigius introduced Benedictine monks to the abbey of St. Mary at Stow before 1076, and procured for them the annexation of Eynsham Abbey in 1091. He also assisted in the refounding of Bardney priory between 1086 and 1089. Giraldus wrongly credits him with the foundation of a hospital for lepers at Lincoln. ^[2]

[edit] See also

• List of bishops of Lincoln and precursor offices

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• British History Online Bishops of Lincoln accessed on October 28, 2007
• This article incorporates text from the Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), a publication now in the public domain.
• Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961