Maurilius (–1067) was a Norman Archbishop of Rouen from 1055 to 1067. Maurilius was originally from

Reims Reims ( , , ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne. Founded by ...

, and was born about 1000. He trained as a priest at Liege and became a member of the

cathedral chapter According to both Catholic and Anglican canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics ( chapter) formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese during the vacancy. In ...

Halberstadt Halberstadt ( Eastphalian: ''Halverstidde'') is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the capital of Harz district. Located north of the Harz mountain range, it is known for its old town center that was greatly destroyed by Allied bombi ...

.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 121 He became a monk at Fecamp Abbey, but then became a hermit at Vallombrosa. From there he was elected

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...

of the monastery of St Marry of Florence,Spear ''Personnel of the Norman Cathedrals'' pp. 196–197 but his austerity caused a revolt amongst the monks and he was forced to return to Fecamp. Maurilius held the office of Archbishop of Rouen from 1054, when he first occurs in documents as archbishop. The ''Annals of Jumieges'', however, place his elevation as archbishop in 1055. Maurilius succeeded

Mauger Mauger may refer to: *Mauger (French name), a Norman surname * Mauger (Jamaican Patois term), a term used in rural Jamaica for a thin woman People with the given name * Mauger of Hauteville (died 1050s), son of Tancred of Hauteville *Mauger (Archb ...

, who was deposed by a council held in 1054 or 1055 at

Lisieux Lisieux () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. It is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland. Name The name of the town derives from the l ...

under the guidance of a

papal legate 300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate. A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...

. After Mauger's deposition, Maurilius was appointed because of his support for church reform.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 69 Contemporaries praised his saintly character which gained him respect from his fellow clergy. He was also known for his scholarly interests and knowledge.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 128 He was a benefactor of the abbeys of Saint-Ouen,

Jumièges Jumièges () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in north-western France. Geography A forestry and farming village situated in a meander of the river Seine, some west of Rouen, at the junction of the D 65 and the ...

Le Tréport Le Tréport () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, France. Geography A small fishing port and light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux, some northeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D 940, the D 78 and th ...

, and Saint-Ymer.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 124 Along with

Lanfranc Lanfranc, OSB (1005 1010 – 24 May 1089) was a celebrated Italian jurist who renounced his career to become a Benedictine monk at Bec in Normandy. He served successively as prior of Bec Abbey and abbot of St Stephen in Normandy and then ...

, he convinced the future

St Anselm Anselm of Canterbury, OSB (; 1033/4–1109), also called ( it, Anselmo d'Aosta, link=no) after his birthplace and (french: Anselme du Bec, link=no) after his monastery, was an Italian Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher and theologian of th ...

to take monastic vows in 1060. As archbishop, he built a large church to replace Rouen Cathedral.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 125Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 134 He also held at least one provincial

synod A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the Latin ...

- the 1063

Synod of Rouen The first synod of Rouen is generally believed to have been held by Archbishop Saint-Ouen about 650. Sixteen of its decrees, one against simony, the others on liturgical and canonical matters, are still extant. Jean-François Pommeraye and a few ot ...

, and perhaps held another ecclesiastical council sometime between 1055 and 1063.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 131 The archbishop's last appearance in documents happens in 1067, and he died in the summer of 1067. His last public act was to consecrate the new abbey church at Jumièges on 1 July 1067 in the presence of Duke

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

, newly returned from his conquest of England in 1066.Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 209 Two different dates are given for Maurilius' death, with a notice of his death appearing for 11 July at the monastery of

Mont Saint-Michel Mont-Saint-Michel (; Norman: ''Mont Saint Miché''; ) is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is ...

but Jumièges Abbey recorded his death on 9 August. He was buried in Rouen Cathedral. After his death, the archbishopric was offered to

, who refused the office.

Citations

Sources

* . * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Maurilius 1000 births 1067 deaths Archbishops of Rouen