Gilbert de Magminot facts for kids
Gilbert Maminot (died August 1101) was an important Norman bishop in the 1000s. He was born into a well-known Norman family in Courbépine. His father was a knight named Robert of Courbépine. People at the time thought Gilbert was a very good leader and organizer. Some even said he was smarter than Robert Curthose, who became the Duke of Normandy after his father, William the Conqueror. Before becoming the Bishop of Lisieux, Gilbert Maminot was William the Conqueror's personal doctor and chaplain.
Bishop of Lisieux
When Bishop Hugh of Eu died in 1077, Gilbert was chosen to take his place. He was officially made bishop by Michael, the Bishop of Avranches. John, the Archbishop of Rouen, was also there.
Gilbert Maminot was known for being very smart and good at medicine. He was fair and strong, but also kind. He was also a skilled administrator. However, some people also noted that he enjoyed a comfortable life and sometimes stuck to his own ideas. A writer named Orderic Vitalis said that while Maminot was very learned, he also loved his free time.
While he was bishop, Maminot helped grow a group of smart people in Lisieux. This group had been started by the bishop before him. Orderic Vitalis wrote that Maminot was "very skilled in many subjects." He also said that Maminot "watched the stars each night" and was a "learned astronomer."
Orderic Vitalis shared a story about Maminot. On April 4, 1095, Gilbert saw "a great shower of stars thick enough to have passed for hail." He believed this meant that "peoples will move from one kingdom to another." He thought many would leave and not return until the stars went back to their normal paths. Orderic Vitalis thought this prediction was about the First Crusade. This big religious journey was announced by Pope Urban II later that same year.
As the Bishop of Lisieux and the king's former doctor, Maminot was there when William the Conqueror died in 1087. He gave the speech at William's funeral at the monastery of Saint Stephen.
On March 15, 1091, Gilbert made Orderic Vitalis a subdeacon for the church in Lisieux. In 1096, Gilbert attended a meeting called the Synod of Rouen. Here, decisions from another important meeting, the Council of Claremont, were announced. This council also reminded people about the "Peace of God," which was a rule to stop fighting.
In 1099, Maminot visited the abbey of Saint-Évroul. He helped with a ceremony to dedicate the abbey's new church building. He blessed the main altar. This ceremony almost didn't happen because Gilbert had refused to bless the new abbots (leaders of the abbey). Norman custom said he should bless them, but Maminot wanted them to give a written promise of obedience, which was an English custom. The abbots refused to do this until King William II stepped in.
Gilbert Maminot died in 1101. After him, Fulcher became bishop, but he couldn't read or write. Then, Fulcher's brother's son, Thomas, became bishop when he was only twelve years old. This caused a lot of problems.
The Defence of Dover Castle
William the Conqueror gave the land of Deptford (also called West Greenwich) to Gilbert Maminot. Gilbert was one of eight important barons who helped defend Dover Castle. These eight barons had to provide 112 soldiers. Twenty-five of these soldiers always had to be on duty inside the castle. The rest had to be ready for any emergency.
Gilbert de Maminot's share of the land was worth 24 "knight's fees." A knight's fee meant enough land to support one knight. These lands were spread across several places. Together, they formed the "barony" of Maminot, with Deptford as its main center.
In 1814, a writer named John Lyon said that Maminot built a castle or a large, fortified house for himself in Deptford. By then, all signs of it were gone. But some old foundations were found, suggesting it was probably on a hill near the Mast Dock.
Not much is known about Gilbert de Magminot after he became the Marshal of Dover Castle. He was said to have a son named Hugh. Hugh's descendant, Walkelin Maminot, later defended Dover Castle against Empress Maud.
