Walter of Albano

Walter or Gualterio of Albano (died 1101) was the cardinal-bishop of the Diocese of Albano in Italy from 1091 to 1101. He served as papal legate to England in May 1095, where he secured the recognition of Pope Urban II by King William II of England. He also brought a pallium, the symbol of an archbishop's authority, to the newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm of Canterbury.Barlow ''Feudal Kingdom of England'' p. 159

Early career

Walter was appointed a cardinal by Urban in 1091 Accessed on 6 February 2009 and was one of Urban's supporters in the papal curia.Cantor ''Church, King, and Lay Investiture'' p. 91

In 1095 the papacy was disputed between two claimants, Clement III and Urban. King William had not recognized either, but Anselm, prior to his election as archbishop, had recognized Urban, and wished to go to Urban to receive his pallium. William would not allow Anselm to go to Rome nor acknowledge any pope until the king had chosen which pope to recognize, and called the Council of Rockingham to persuade Anselm to wait, but the council did not settle matters to the king's satisfaction.Mason ''William II'' pp. 139–141 In order to resolve the situation without relinquishing his royal right to choose the pope acknowledged by England, the king sent two clerks to Rome to negotiate with Urban about English recognition and the pallium for Anselm. They set out after the Council in February 1095, and returned to England with Walter by 13 May 1095.Mason ''William II'' p. 143

Legate in England

Walter did not meet with Anselm when he landed at Dover, instead going directly to meet the king. Walter was authorized to give the king "all that he wanted" in return for William's recognition of Urban. The king's chief negotiator was William de St-Calais, the Bishop of Durham.Cantor ''Church, Kingship, and Lay Investiture'' p. 92 The medieval writer Hugh of Flavigny said that Walter expressly conceded that no more papal legates would be sent to England without William's permission, for the length of William's life. Papal approval of the king's acts in the dispute was also granted. William then attempted to get the legate to depose Anselm, but was unsuccessful. Hugh also accused Walter of taking a bribe and attempting to get Anselm to swear fealty to the pope and Saint Peter. In the end, a compromise was reached, which limited the ability of the papacy to interfere in the English Church in exchange for the king's recognition of Urban.Barlow ''William Rufus'' pp. 342–344

When time came to give Anselm his pallium, the first suggestion that the king give it to Anselm was rejected by the archbishop, and a compromise was reached where Walter put the pallium on the high altar at Canterbury Cathedral on 27 May 1095, and Anselm took the pallium from the altar. Walter remained in England to collect Peter's Pence, a traditional payment from the English bishoprics to the papacy. Anselm and the legate did not get along well from the start, for Walter said that Anselm's election as archbishop had been made by schismatics, throwing doubt on Anselm's fitness.Southern ''Anselm'' p. 269 Relations between Walter and Anselm were further strained later in the summer when the legate wrote a letter to Anselm relaying some accusations against the archbishop made by some of the English bishops.Barlow ''William Rufus'' p. 345 Although Walter attempted to discuss church reform with Anselm, Anselm gave the excuse that because an invasion from Robert Curthose was expected, the archbishop was unable to talk with the legate due to Anselm's military obligations.Cantor ''Church, Kingship, and Lay Investiture'' p. 93 Another reason Anselm gave was that nothing could be done about a church council in England without the king's approval.Southern ''Anselm'' p. 273

Later career

Walter left England sometime in the summer or autumn of 1095.Cantor ''Church, Kingship, and Lay Investiture'' p. 95 He took with him to Rome a letter from Anselm and a small gift for Urban.Vaughn ''Anselm of Bec'' p. 193 He was in Rome on 14 August 1099, and probably helped elect Pope Pascal II on 13 August 1099.Robinson ''Papacy'' p. 62 He died in 1101.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Albano, Walter Of
11th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops
12th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops
Cardinal-bishops of Albano
Diplomats of the Holy See
1101 deaths
Year of birth unknown
1090s in England
William II of England