Nicholas of Arbroath

Nicholas O. Tiron (d. 1306 × 1307), Abbot of Arbroath and Bishop of Dunblane, was a late 13th century and early 14th century churchman in the Kingdom of Scotland. Little is known about Nicholas until in he appeared on November 21, 1299, holding the position of Abbot of Arbroath in a charter of that abbey; the last attestation of his predecessor Henry can be dated to October 16, 1296, so that Nicholas must have become abbot sometime in between these two dates.^[1]

As Abbot of Arbroath, he was a canon of Dunblane Cathedral, and entitled to participate in episcopal elections. Bishop Alpín had died sometime between October 1, 1299, and October 15, 1301, and the new election to the bishopric became deadlocked.^[2]

Several canons had emerged as candidates, and it seems to have been decided that all candidates should proceed to the papal see to request judgment from the Pope.^[3] As it happened, Abbot Nicholas was the only candidate to travel to the papacy; as Cockburn commented, "An abbot could face the heavy expense; no poor canon of the Cathedral could".^[4] When no other turned up, the Pope authorised Nicholas' provision, and he was consecrated by Theodoric, Bishop of Palestrina, on November 13, 1301.^[5]

Nicholas' short career as bishop is not well recorded. In the events of the early Wars of Scottish Independence, Nicholas' role is unclear and aside from some appearances in the charters of Coupar Angus Abbey, his name is largely absent from the evidence.^[4] He appears for the last time, in papal documents, on January 26, 1306, and was dead a good time before December 11, 1307, when his successor Nicholas de Balmyle was consecrated as bishop in France.^[6]

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