Monastic Wales.








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Walter of St Dogmaels , Abbot

Active: 1198-1203   

A kinsman of Gerald of Wales and rival to the see of St David's.

Walter, whom Gerald of Wales describes as his cousin, earned the hostility of the archdeacon when he secured his nomination as bishop-elect to the See of St David's c. 1202. Gerald, who had previously been nominated by the chapter of St David's, felt his cousin had robbed him of the position for Walter was promoted to office by the archbishop of Canterbury. As bishop-elect Walter took possession of the temporalities of the See and was criticised for doing so by Gerald. But Walter's position was never actually secured; following a long suit that was brought to Rome Walter was deprived of the position. Gerald described his cousin as 'an ignorant fellow' and 'wholly illiterate'.

Sites associated with this person

St Dogmaels Abbey, Pembrokeshire (abbot)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Autobiography of Gerald of Wales, ed. H. E. Butler (Boydell and Brewer: Woodbridge, 2005) pp. 189, 204-8, 240, 319-21, 328 (De Iure et Statu))


 
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