Walcher

Career

Walcher was a priest in Lotharingia from Liège and a secular clerk. During the first part of his term as bishop, he was on friendly terms with Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, so much so that Waltheof sat with the clergy when Walcher held synods. After Waltheof rebelled and lost his earldom, Walcher was allowed to buy the earldom of Northumbria. Walcher planned to introduce monks into his cathedral chapter, and was remembered as encouraging monasticism in his diocese. Particularly, he was known as the patron of Aldwine, who attempted to re-establish monasticism at Whitby. The medieval chronicler Symeon of Durham stated that Walcher had begun construction of monastic buildings at Durham as part of his plan to introduce monks into Durham.

One of Walcher's councillors was Ligulf of Lumley, who was connected by birth to the old Northumbrian line and was married to the daughter of Ealdred, Earl of Bernicia. Ligulf's presence in the bishop's council provided a link with the local aristocracy. There was a Scottish invasion in 1079, which Walcher was unable or unwilling to deal with effectively. The Scots, under Malcolm III, were able to plunder Northumberland for about three weeks unopposed before returning to Scotland with slaves and booty. Ligulf was very critical of Walcher's conduct. A feud ensued between Ligulf and two of Walcher's henchmen, his chaplain Leobwin and his kinsman Gilbert. Gilbert attacked Ligulf's hall in the middle of the night and Ligulf and most of his household were killed.

The Northumbrians were enraged at the murder of one of their leaders and there was a real threat of rebellion. In order to calm the situation Walcher agreed to travel from Durham and meet Ligulf's kinsmen at Gateshead. He travelled with at least one hundred retainers for safety. At Gateshead, he met Eadulf Rus the leader of the kinsmen and was presented with a petition of wrongs committed. Walcher rejected these and the enraged Northumbrians attacked the Norman party. Walcher and his men sought refuge in a nearby church but the Northumbrians set fire to it. Leobwin died in the blaze and when Walcher, Gilbert and the rest of his party were forced out by the flames they were killed on 14 May 1080 at Gateshead.

A UNESCO report on Durham Castle provided this additional information about the bishop: Walcher "purchased the earldom [of Northumbria] and thus became the first of the Prince-Bishops of Durham, a title that was to remain until the 19th century, and was to give Durham a unique status in England. It was under Walcher that many of the Castle's first buildings were constructed. As was typical of Norman castles, it consisted of a motte (mound) and an inner and outer bailey (fenced or walled area). Whether the motte and inner bailey were built first is unknown".

Character

Walcher was a saintly man but an incompetent leader. According to Symeon of Durham, Walcher's household knights were allowed to plunder and occasionally kill natives without punishment.

Walcher was considered a well-educated bishop, and had a reputation as a pious man. Walcher's successor as Earl of Northumbria was Aubrey de Coucy. William de St-Calais was the next bishop, though not earl.

Aftermath of his death

Following the killing of Walcher, the rebels attacked Durham Castle and besieged it for four days, before returning to their homes. The result of their rising and the killing of William's appointed bishop, led William to send his half brother Odo of Bayeux with an army to harry the Northumbrian countryside. Many of the native nobility were driven into exile and the power of the Anglo-Saxon nobility in Northumbria was broken.

Notes

Citations

References

References

1. Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 241
2. (1 March 2016). "Durham Castle". Castles, Forts, Battles.
3. Williams ''English and the Norman Conquest'' p. 66
4. He was invited by [[William I of England
5. Barlow ''English Church'' p. 152
6. Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 240
7. Barlow ''English Church'' p. 62
8. Snape "Documentary Evidence" ''Medieval Art and Architecture at Durham Cathedral'' p. 22
9. Sadler ''Battle for Northumbria'' p. 51
10. Barlow ''Feudal Kingdom of England'' p. 94
11. Kapelle ''Norman Conquest of the North'' p. 139
12. Stafford ''Unification and Conquest'' p. 123
13. "Durham Castle". Durham World Heritage Site.
14. Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 327
15. Kapelle ''Norman Conquest of the North'' p. 138
16. Symeon of Durham portrayed him as an honest, upright man who diligently performed his episcopal duties.Kapelle ''Norman Conquest of the North'' p. 137
17. Powell and Wallis ''House of Lords'' p. 32
18. Powell and Wallis ''House of Lords'' p. 36
19. Kapelle ''Norman Conquest of the North'' p. 141