Mr Karl Curran
Explain why Lanfranc was made primate in 1072 (12 marks)
Lanfranc was made primate in 1072 for the following reasons.
Principally, Lanfranc was made primate due to the support papal legates gave him, the nomination for Lanfranc to be archbishop of Canterbury was heavily carried by papal legates. Most importantly Lanfranc had full support of William the conqueror; therefore Ermenfrid’s (Papal Legate) nomination of Lanfranc was influential by the king. The over-turning of Stigand and ceremonially re-crowning William as king added legitimate validity to Lanfranc’s case. A strong case in favour for Lanfranc becoming primate was the fact that the papal legates approved the decrees of the councils of Windsor and Winchester- these were the initial reforms that Lanfranc provided of the English church.
An additional reason why Lanfranc became primate was because of the close connection he had with Margaret, the sister of Edgar the Atheling. Lanfranc was in regular correspondence with Margaret, the significance to this was that she married Malcolm Canmore of Scotland in 1070 and this meant that she held strong influence over the Scottish king. King William had now been given a bigger reason to make Lanfranc primate, due to Lanfranc being in correspondence with Margaret; it meant that Lanfranc now had influence over Scotland and therefore, the Atheling. Furthermore, Lanfranc was now seen as a priceless candidate for the role of Archbishop of Canterbury.
Another reason why Lanfranc was made primate was the factor of him asserting primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lanfranc asserted the primacy of the Bishopric of York, at the time held by Thomas of Bayeux, conformation of this was at the council of Winchester in 1072, which was supported by the papacy. Therefore he was made primate because Lanfranc centralised the church under one leader, which was himself, thus guaranteeing William ultimate loyalty from the church. Lanfranc was made Archbishop of Canterbury due
Lanfranc was made primate in 1072 for the following reasons.
Principally, Lanfranc was made primate due to the support papal legates gave him, the nomination for Lanfranc to be archbishop of Canterbury was heavily carried by papal legates. Most importantly Lanfranc had full support of William the conqueror; therefore Ermenfrid’s (Papal Legate) nomination of Lanfranc was influential by the king. The over-turning of Stigand and ceremonially re-crowning William as king added legitimate validity to Lanfranc’s case. A strong case in favour for Lanfranc becoming primate was the fact that the papal legates approved the decrees of the councils of Windsor and Winchester- these were the initial reforms that Lanfranc provided of the English church.
An additional reason why Lanfranc became primate was because of the close connection he had with Margaret, the sister of Edgar the Atheling. Lanfranc was in regular correspondence with Margaret, the significance to this was that she married Malcolm Canmore of Scotland in 1070 and this meant that she held strong influence over the Scottish king. King William had now been given a bigger reason to make Lanfranc primate, due to Lanfranc being in correspondence with Margaret; it meant that Lanfranc now had influence over Scotland and therefore, the Atheling. Furthermore, Lanfranc was now seen as a priceless candidate for the role of Archbishop of Canterbury.
Another reason why Lanfranc was made primate was the factor of him asserting primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lanfranc asserted the primacy of the Bishopric of York, at the time held by Thomas of Bayeux, conformation of this was at the council of Winchester in 1072, which was supported by the papacy. Therefore he was made primate because Lanfranc centralised the church under one leader, which was himself, thus guaranteeing William ultimate loyalty from the church. Lanfranc was made Archbishop of Canterbury due