Lanfranc

LANFRANC (c.1005 - 1089)

Archbishop of Canterbury.

A lawyer from Lombardy. Following his father's death, we find Lanfranc in Normandy where he established at school at Avaranches (1039). Lanfranc then entered the Benedictine Monastery at Bec under Abbot Herluin. He spent three years in comtemplative seclusion (c.1045) before advancing to the position of Prior. Lanfranc opened a school in the Monastery at Bec.

Lanfranc was successful in attaining the position of Councillor to William of Normandy (William I of England) but fell out over William's marriage to Matilda of Flanders. The two were reconciled.

Lanfranc was appointed as Abbot of the new monastery at St. Stephens (Caen - 1066). Following the Norman invasion of England and William's success in claiming the throne of England for himself, William set about removing all Anglo-Saxons from positions within the Church and Government. Stigund, the Anglo-Saxon Archbisop of Canterbury was deposed (1070). Following William's actual coronation as King of England, Lanfranc was persuaded by William to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

One of Lanfranc's first tasks was the reform of the Church. And whilst William was absent in Normandy, Lanfranc uncovered a conspiracy against King by the Earls of Hereford and Norfolk, and foiled the plot (1075).

Following the death of William I (1087), Lanfranc crowned William II, despite opposition from Robert of Normandy.

Article added: 2006-06-09 @ 4:16 am | Last Modified: 2006-06-13 @ 7:41 am

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