William Briwere[a] (died 1244) was a medieval Bishop of Exeter.
William Briwere | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Exeter | |
| Appointed | c. 25 November 1223 |
| Predecessor | Simon de Apulia |
| Successor | Richard Blund |
| Other post(s) | Precentor of Exeter Cathedral |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 21 April 1224 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 24 October 1244 |
| Denomination | Catholic |
Early life
editBriwere was the nephew of William Brewer, a baron and political leader during King Henry III of England's minority.[1] Nothing else is known of the younger Briwere's family or where he was educated. He owed the office of precentor at Exeter Cathedral to his uncle's influence, receiving that office about 1208.[2]
Briwere was nominated around 25 November 1223 and consecrated on 21 April 1224.[3] His elevation had been supported by Hubert de Burgh as a means of drawing Briwere's uncle over to the side of de Burgh.[4]
Crusading bishop
editBriwere participated in the Sixth Crusade as a proxy for his uncle, who died before he was able to fulfill his crusading vows.[4] The elder Briwere had taken the cross in 1189, but was excused temporarily because of his administrative duties. The nephew had released for his use 4000 marks that had been deposited with the Templars in the Holy Land by his uncle. Briwere went on the crusade with Peter des Roches, who was Bishop of Winchester.[5] An army of other crusaders accompanied them to the East, although whether they were English or mercenaries recruited on the Continent is unclear. The contingent left from Brindisi in August 1227.[6]
Both bishops were influential advisors to Frederick II the Holy Roman Emperor.[5] Pope Gregory IX had ordered that no one collaborate with Frederick, who was at the time excommunicate, but both bishops ignored the papal orders and worked closely with Frederick's agents and Frederick himself. The financial resources both bishops brought were especially appreciated by the crusaders.[5]
Both bishops witnessed the treaty on 18 February 1229 with the Sultan of Cairo that restored Jerusalem to the Christians,[5] the Treaty of Jaffa.[6] Briwere visited Jerusalem after this.[2] How quickly Briwere returned to England is uncertain. Some historians have it that he was back in England by 1229.[5][6] Others, however point out that he is not attested as being in England until April 1231, and maintain that he travelled with des Roches, who dawdled in Italy for a time.[2]
Time in England
editWhile bishop, Briwere introduced the Dominican Order into his diocese.[7] He also set up the offices of dean and chancellor of the Exeter Cathedral chapter, allowing the chapter to elect those officers. He also issued a set of statutes for the diocese, based on those recently issued for the diocese of Salisbury.[2]
Briwere was also employed by the king on diplomatic missions, going twice to France and also escorting Henry's sister Isabella to her marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1235.[2]
Briwere died on 24 October 1244.[3] He had sought permission from the pope to resign before his death, but Pope Innocent IV only granted the permission after Briwere's death.[2]
Excavations in the quire of Exeter Cathedral in 2023 found a number of stone-lined tombs including one identified as Briwere's.[8]
Notes
edit- ^ Sometimes Brewer or de Briwere
Citations
edit- ^ Vincent Peter des Roches p. 213
- ^ a b c d e f Barlow "Brewer, William" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ a b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 246
- ^ a b Vincent Peter des Roches pp. 230–232
- ^ a b c d e Tyerman England and the Crusades pp. 99–101
- ^ a b c Tyerman God's War pp. 744–745
- ^ Vincent Peter des Roches p. 234
- ^ Merritt, Anita (27 July 2023). "Exeter Cathedral dig unearths ancient tomb of William The Conqueror's nephew". DevonLive. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
References
edit- Barlow, Frank (2004). "Brewer, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50339. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- Tyerman, Christopher (1996). England and the Crusades: 1095–1588. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-82013-0.
- Tyerman, Christopher (2006). God's War: A New History of the Crusades. Cambridge, UK: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-02387-0.
- Vincent, Nicholas (2002). Peter des Roches: An Alien in English Politics 1205–1238 (Reprint ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52215-3.
External links
edit- "Entry for William" in George Oliver's Lives of the Bishops of Exeter