Gérard de Vuippens facts for kids
Gérard de Vuippens was an important church leader and diplomat from a region called Savoy. He worked in England for a time before becoming a bishop in Switzerland. Bishops are high-ranking leaders in the Christian church.
Gérard was the son of Ulrich de Vuippens and Agnes de Grandson. His aunt was the sister of Otto de Grandson, a very close friend and special helper to King Edward I of England. This connection was very helpful for Gérard.
Early Life and Church Roles
Gérard moved to England when he was younger. His first role was as a "sub deacon" at a Benedictine church in Stamford. A sub deacon is a helper in the church. Later, he became a "pastor" at a church in Greystoke, Cumbria. A pastor is a leader who guides the church community.
King Edward I of England even gave Gérard ten oak trees. These trees were for timber, likely to help with building or repairs at the church in Greystoke. This gift shows how much the King valued Gérard.
Moving Up in the Church
Gérard continued to grow in his church career. He became a sub deacon in Richmond, North Yorkshire and then a "Canon" at York. A Canon is another important church official. These roles prepared him for bigger responsibilities.
A Royal Diplomat
Gérard took on a very important job for King Edward I. He became a key diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and helps different countries talk to each other. Gérard helped King Edward I during difficult discussions with King Philip IV of France. These talks were about land, especially a region called Gascony.
Bishop in Europe
After his work in England, Gérard left to become a bishop. In 1301, he became the Bishop of Lausanne in Switzerland. He served in this role until 1309. Then, he moved to become the Bishop of Basel, another important city in Switzerland. He remained the Bishop of Basel until he passed away on March 17, 1325.
