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Champart, Robert (of Jumieges, Archbishop of Canterbury)

 Born   Born At
 Diedcirca 1052  Buried At
 Born / 
 Diedcirca 1052 / 
Robert Champart was a Norman monk who became the Archbishop of Canterbury for a short time. Robert became the prior of St. Ouen in Rouen after training there as a monk and In 1037 he became the Abbot of Jumieges organising its reconstruction creating a huge church in the Norman Romanesque style. Robert met the exiled Prince Edward of England, who would become King Edward the Confessor, and when Edward returned to England in 1041, Robert accompanied him and became an important counsellor to the new king. Robert was given the position of Bishop of London and the favouritism shown to him by Edward led to rivalries between Robert and Earl Godwin and his family. In 1051 when the position of Archbishop of Canterbury became available King Edward gave it to Robert in opposition to the wishes of the monks of Canterbury and Earl Godwin. Robert was a skilled politician, having great influence over the King and was able to promote many Normans into the Court of England. Later that year an incident occurred when Eustace II Count of Boulogne visited Edward the Confessor, his brother-in-law. The incident occurred in Dover where a fight broke out between the Norman visitors and the locals resulting in the deaths of several people. The area of Dover was under the control of the Godwin family and Edward the Confessor, who blamed the people of Dover for the fight, told Earl Godwin to deal with them. Godwin refused to obey Edward's order and in response Edward raised an army and forced the Godwin family into exile. What part Robert played in these events is not known. In 1052 Earl Godwin returned from exile and forced Robert to flee back to Normandy. Safely out of the country, Robert then proceeded to Rome to get the Pope's support for his return as Archbishop. Although the Pope ruled in his favour, back in England the ruling was ignored and Stigand was installed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Robert retired to his monastery in Jumieges were he lived until his death.

Related Episodes

Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwine (click here)

Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwine (click here)

 

Family Tree Details

 Champart, Robert (of Jumieges, Archbishop of Canterbury) ( - d.1052?)
 Champart, Robert (of Jumieges, Archbishop of Canterbury) ( - d.1052?)

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    1041

    After a long exile at the Norman court Edward the Confessor returned to England. Harthacanute had no wife or heir so had invited Edward to return as Edward had the right to claim the English throne. Edward's right to the throne was not certain and so he enlisted the help of Earl Godwin, who agreed to give his assistance if Edward married his daughter Edith. Edward was accompanied by Robert Champart, the Abbot of Jumieges who would become one of Edwards key councellors. [1]

    1044

    Robert Champart was consecrated bishop of London. He was highly respected by King Edward and Robert's influence over the king was a source of tension between the Normans and Anglo-Saxons in the country.

    1051

    Late in 1050, Eadsige, the archbishop of Canterbury died. The monks of Canterbury favoured Aelric, one of their fellow monks to become the next archbishop and Earl Godwin was approached to help push his appointment through. But King Edward appointed his favourite councellor Robert of Jumieges to the post instead.

    An incident occurred when Eustace II Count of Boulogne visited Edward the Confessor, his brother-in-law. The incident occurred in Dover where a fight broke out between the Norman visitors and the locals resulting in the deaths of several people. The area of Dover was under the control of the Godwin family and Edward the Confessor, who blamed the people of Dover for the fight, told Earl Godwin to deal with them. Godwin refused to obey Edward's order and in response Edward raised an army and forced the Godwin family into exile.

    1052

    Stigand, the Bishop of Winchester, mediated in the conflicts between the Godwins and Edward the Confessor. The Norman Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert of Jumieges, fled the country with other bishops who had been appointed by Edward. Stigand assumed the title of Archbishop of Canterbury. Robert of Jumieges appealed to Pope Leo IX and Stigand was excommunicated.

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    Selection of references used:

    • 1: David Charles Douglas, William the Conqueror: the norman impact upon England, University of California Press, 1977

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