Aymer de Valence (bishop) facts for kids

Aymer de Valence (born around 1222 – died December 4, 1260) was an important church leader in England. He became the Bishop of Winchester in 1250. He was also the half-brother of King Henry III of England.

Aymer de Valence: A Royal Bishop

Aymer de Valence was a significant figure in 13th-century England. He held a powerful position as a bishop. His life was closely tied to the royal family and important political events of his time.

Family Connections

Aymer de Valence was a half-brother to King Henry III. This meant they shared the same mother, Isabella of Angoulême. Isabella was the second wife of King John. Aymer's father was Hugh X of Lusignan, a French count. Aymer also had a nephew named Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke.

In 1247, Aymer and his brothers came to England. They hoped to gain important positions at the King's court. Aymer received a special church income called a prebend in London.

Becoming Bishop of Winchester

In 1250, King Henry III strongly pushed for Aymer to become the Bishop of Winchester. The King's influence helped Aymer get elected on November 4. However, many people felt Aymer was not suitable for the role.

He could not read or write well. He also did not speak English. His lifestyle was more like a nobleman than a church leader. People were upset about foreign favorites getting important jobs. Aymer became a symbol of this anger. Despite these concerns, Pope Innocent IV approved his election in 1251. The Pope also allowed him to keep his other church incomes.

Conflicts with English Barons

Aymer played a part in starting a major reform movement in 1258. On April 1, 1258, Aymer sent his men to attack people working for a powerful lord, John fitz Geoffrey. One person was killed during this attack.

A week later, at a meeting in Westminster, John fitz Geoffrey demanded justice from the King. King Henry III defended Aymer, his half-brother. He refused to give justice, which made the English lords, known as barons, very angry.

At a special meeting called the Parliament of Oxford in 1258, Aymer and his brothers refused to accept new rules. These rules, called the Provisions of Oxford, were designed by the barons to limit the King's power. Aymer was chased to Winchester and trapped in Wolvesey Castle. He was forced to give up and leave England.

Final Journey and Death

Aymer had never been officially made a bishop through a ceremony called consecration. Because of this, the church leaders in Winchester chose a new bishop in 1259. However, Aymer gained the support of Pope Alexander IV.

In January 1259, Pope Alexander IV sent a messenger to England. The messenger's job was to make the King and the barons put Aymer back in his bishop role. Aymer was on his way back to England when he became very ill in Paris. He was finally consecrated as bishop on May 16, 1260. Sadly, he died shortly after, on December 4, 1260, in Paris. He was buried there.