Geoffrey Rufus
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Geoffrey Rufus, also called Galfrid Rufus<ref name=Mackensie>Eneas Mackenzie, Marvin Ross, An Historical, Topographical, and Descriptive View of the County Palatine of Durham, 1834</ref> (died 1141) was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England.
LifeEdit
Rufus' parentage and upbringing is unknown. The origin of the nickname "Rufus" has not been discovered either.<ref name=DNB>Dalton "Geoffrey Rufus" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</ref> He was a royal clerk<ref name=BHODurham>Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Durham: Bishops</ref> before being named the tenth Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1123 to 1133.<ref name=Handbook83>Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 83</ref> Geoffrey had also worked for the previous chancellor Ranulf.<ref name=Church88>Barlow English Church pp. 88–89</ref> He may have started his career as a clerk for Roger of Salisbury, King Henry I of England's chief minister,<ref name=Green167>Green Government of England p. 167</ref> for he first appears as a witness to a charter of Roger's in 1114.<ref name=Green255>Green Government of England pp. 255–256</ref> From charter evidence, it appears that Rufus was often in England, even when King Henry was in Normandy.<ref name=HenryI361>Hollister Henry I pp. 361–363</ref> In the Pipe Roll of 1130, he had custody of more royal land than any other official.<ref name=DNB/> After Geoffrey became a bishop, the king chose to keep the office of chancellor vacant until the king's death.<ref name=HenryI361/> The functions of the office were performed by the head of the scriptorium, Robert de Sigello.<ref name=Green27>Green Government of England p. 27</ref>
Rufus was nominated to the see of Durham about 14 May 1133, and consecrated on 6 August 1133.<ref name=Handbook241>Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 241</ref> He was enthroned on 10 August 1133.<ref name=BHODurham/> The see had been vacant since 1128. Geoffrey at first quarrelled with his cathedral chapter, but peace was restored when the bishop allowed the monks their privileges.<ref name=Church88/> Geoffrey also was a benefactor to Newminster Abbey.<ref name=DNB/> During Rufus' episcopate the chapterhouse at Durham was completed. Rufus also employed as a clerk William Cumin, who after Rufus' death conspired with King David I of Scotland to seize the see of Durham.<ref name=Church88/>
When King Stephen took the throne at the death of King Henry, Rufus acknowledged Stephen as king, but did not attend the royal court often. In 1136, a peace treaty between King David and King Stephen was signed at Durham, but in 1138 Rufus' castle of Norham surrendered to King David, an act that brought condemnation to the bishop for failing to defend the castle adequately. Geoffrey, however, refused David's offer to return Norham to Geoffrey in return for repudiating Stephen. In retaliation, Norham was destroyed. Geoffrey does not seem to have supported either side at the Battle of the Standard in August 1138.<ref name=DNB/> At the end of Rufus' life, because of King David's invasion of northern England in support of the Empress Matilda, most of the diocese was under the control of the Scottish king.<ref name=Huscroft134>Huscroft Ruling England p. 134</ref>
Rufus died on 6 May 1141.<ref name=Handbook241/> Rufus was married, and had at least one daughter,<ref name=Church88/> who married Robert of Amundeville.<ref name=DNB/> His son Geoffrey seems not to have been involved in politics, although he held an estate in Dorset of 18 and a half hides.<ref name=Clout280>Mooers "Familial Clout and Financial Gain" Albion p. 280</ref> His grave was identified and excavated in the 19th century inside Durham Chapter House.<ref name=Carver13>Carver "Early Medieval Durham" Medieval Art and Architecture p. 13</ref>
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Further readingEdit
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