Robert II (bishop of Ross)

Robert (died c. 1271) was a 13th century prelate based in the Kingdom of Scotland. He was successively Archdeacon of Ross and Bishop of Ross; he is the second Robert to have held the bishopric of Ross.^[1]

Robert can be found as Archdeacon of Ross as early as 6 July 1223, when his name occurred in a document relating to Durham Cathedral; it is not known how long he had been holding that position in 1223, but he is the first known Archdeacon of the diocese.^[2]

He probably became Bishop of Ross sometime in 1149; he was consecrated sometime between 21 June 1249 and 20 June 1150.^[3]

Turner interpreted a papal mandate of 1256 as sanctioning the increase in the number of canons in the cathedral chapter and authorising the relocation of the cathedral [from Rosemarkie] to Fortrose.^[4] Cowan and Easson thought that the cathedral had always been located at Fortrose, but it was simply called Rosemarkie.^[5]

Bishop Robert appears, from the evidence of Walter Bower (using an earlier source), to have died in the year 1171.^[3] Walter Bower confuses the man who died that year and the builder of the new cathedral with Robert II's predecessor, Robert I.^[6]

Notes

References

• Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man, Second Edition, (London, 1976)
• Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
• Turner, Louise B., Fortrose Cathedral (St. Peter and St. Boniface), (Groam House Leaflet No. 2, 1984)
• Watt, D. E. R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)