Geoffrey, Archbishop of York

Geoffrey, Archbishop of York (c. 115212 December 1212) was an illegitimate son of Henry II, King of England.

He was distinguished from his legitimate half-brothers by his consistent attachment and fidelity to his father. His mother was Ykenai, who Walter Map described as 'a base-born, common harlot who stooped to all uncleanness'.

He was made Bishop of Lincoln at the age of twenty-one (1173); but though he enjoyed the temporalities he was never consecrated and resigned the see in 1183. He then became his father's chancellor, holding a large number of lucrative benefices in plurality. Richard nominated him archbishop of York in 1189, but he was not consecrated until 1191, or enthroned until 1194.

Geoffrey, though of high character, was a man of uneven temper; his history is chiefly one of quarrels, with the see of Canterbury, with the chancellor William Longchamp, with his half-brothers Richard and John, and especially with his canons at York. This last dispute kept him in litigation before Richard and Pope Celestine III for many years. He led the clergy in their refusal to be taxed by John and was forced to fly the kingdom in 1207. He died in Normandy on the 12th of December 1212.


Preceded by:
Robert de Chesney
Bishop of Lincoln
1173-1183
Succeeded by:
Walter de Coutances
Preceded by:
Ralph de Warneville
Lord Chancellor
1181–1189
Succeeded by:
William Longchamp
Preceded by:
Roger de Pont L'Evêque
Archbishop of York
1181–1212
Succeeded by:
Walter de Gray

References

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