Ranulf Flambard facts for kids

Ranulf Flambard (around 1060 – 5 September 1128) was an important Norman leader and Bishop of Durham in medieval England. He was a powerful government minister for King William Rufus. Ranulf was the son of a priest from Bayeux, a town in Normandy, France. His nickname, Flambard, means "torch-bearer" or "fiery," which might have described his strong personality.

Ranulf began his career working for King William I of England, also known as William the Conqueror. He likely helped create the Domesday Book in 1086, which was a huge survey of England. He also held the king's seal, which was used to make official documents. When William I died, Ranulf chose to serve the new king, William Rufus.

Under King Rufus, Ranulf continued to hold the king's seal. He also became very involved in managing the kingdom's money. He quickly became known for his clever ways of raising money for the king. At one point, he was in charge of 16 church offices that didn't have a leader, like bishoprics or abbeys. Because of his many important jobs, some people think he was the first Chief Justiciar of England, a top royal official. During Rufus's rule, Ranulf also oversaw the building of London's first stone bridge and the king's great hall at Westminster. In 1099, he was made the Bishop of Durham as a reward.

After King Rufus died in 1100, his brother Henry I of England became king. Henry put Ranulf in the Tower of London, blaming him for the harsh ways money was collected during Rufus's reign. Ranulf became the first prisoner to ever escape from the Tower! He then went to Normandy to join Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy, who was Rufus's and Henry's older brother. Ranulf became a key advisor to Robert and helped him plan an invasion of England to try and take the throne from Henry. The brothers eventually made peace. Ranulf got his bishop job back but stayed in Normandy for a few years. He only returned to England after Henry defeated Robert at the Battle of Tinchebray. After this, Ranulf mostly stayed out of politics. He remained active in church matters, attending meetings and working to protect the rights of his church area.

Ranulf's Early Life

A page from the Domesday Book, which Ranulf helped create.

Ranulf was from Normandy, and his father, Thurstin, was a priest in the Bayeux area. Ranulf was probably born around 1060, as he was nearly 70 when he died in 1128. He first worked for Odo of Bayeux, who was the half-brother of King William I. Soon after, Ranulf started working in King William I's chancery, which was like the king's main office for writing documents. He was known for being smart and good-looking.

His nickname, Flambard, means "torch-bearer" or "fiery flame." It might have been given to him because of his energetic personality. Some old writers said that Ranulf was given this name because he, a person from a humble background, was ordering important nobles around. Others said it was because of his strictness.

Ranulf became known as a skilled financial expert and administrator. He helped the king collect more money. He seems to have played a big part in creating the Domesday survey, which was a huge record of land and property in England. The Domesday Book shows that he was a clerk and owned land in several parts of the country. Before King William I died, Ranulf became a chaplain to Maurice, who was the Bishop of London. Ranulf had worked for Maurice before in the chancery. Some old texts say he was "almost illiterate," but this likely meant he didn't have a formal education in certain subjects. His work would have required him to know Latin. He also served as the keeper of the king's seal from about 1085. Once, while traveling with the seal, he was captured by pirates. To stop them from taking the seal, he threw it into the sea! Even though he worked for William the Conqueror, he wasn't a top advisor at that time. When King William died, his lands were split between his sons: Robert Curthose got Normandy, and William Rufus got England. Ranulf chose to serve William Rufus in England.

Working for King Rufus

A drawing of the inside of Westminster Hall from around 1808. The outer walls were built during Ranulf's time.

Before William the Conqueror died, Ranulf held a church position in the diocese of Salisbury. Early in King Rufus's reign, he held other church jobs, including dean of Christchurch in Twynham, Hampshire. He was still the keeper of the king's seal and might have been in charge of the royal writing office. He was often called Rufus's chaplain, but sometimes also treasurer or even capitalis justicaiarius, which means chief justice. Another writer called him the "manager of the whole kingdom."

At Christchurch, Ranulf reduced the number of church officials from 25 to 13 by not replacing those who died. He used the money saved to rebuild the church. Some old stories claim that when he rebuilt the church at Twynham, he not only tore down the old church but also nine others nearby.

As the main financial manager, Ranulf was often criticized by writers for his harsh methods of collecting money and increasing royal income. Besides trying to collect taxes more efficiently, Ranulf came up with new ways to raise money. One new idea came in 1094 when the fyrd, or English army, was gathered to fight in Normandy. When the men were all together, Ranulf sent them home instead of to Normandy. But first, he collected the 10 shillings that each man had been given for their travel costs. Ranulf then used this money to hire professional soldiers. Ranulf also actively pursued legal cases, even suing Anselm of Canterbury on the day Anselm became Archbishop of Canterbury. Another new idea was trying to collect a special payment, like a tax, from people who held land from the church when a church leader died. This happened when Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester died in 1095. The king sent orders to Wulfstan's tenants, telling them how much they owed the king. However, this idea was not used again.

Ranulf managed many church positions for the king that were empty. He personally oversaw 16 abbeys or bishoprics. Eventually, he got the rich position of Bishop of Durham for himself in May 1099, and he became bishop on 5 June 1099. He had been in charge of the Durham area since the previous bishop died in early 1096. When he became bishop, he managed to avoid promising obedience to Thomas, the Archbishop of York, just like the bishop before him. One old writer accused Ranulf of paying 1,000 pounds for the bishopric. He was given church control over Carlisle and Cumbria, but only for a short time. After King Henry I took the throne, control over these areas went to the diocese of York.

Some historians believe Ranulf might have been the first Chief Justiciar of all England, even though he never had that exact title. It's not clear if his power was as wide-ranging as Roger of Salisbury's in the next king's reign. He ran the government of England while King Rufus was fighting in Normandy. He not only raised money but also issued official orders and decided court cases. One writer said Ranulf "skinned the rich, ground the poor, and swept other men's inheritances into his net." Another old writer said Ranulf planned to update the Domesday Book and use it to take away any land holdings that were too large. If this was planned, it was never carried out.

Ranulf often worked with other important officials like Haimo and Urse d'Abetot to carry out the king's decisions. For example, they, along with Robert Bloet the Bishop of Lincoln, re-evaluated the lands of Thorney Abbey for taxes. Other times, they were ordered to make sure a certain church received control of another church. These men are sometimes seen by historians as the first "Barons of the Exchequer," who were important financial officials. There are also signs that during Ranulf's time, there were royal judges in the counties who held courts for the king.

While managing England for King Rufus, Ranulf also oversaw building projects. Under his leadership, the first stone bridge in London was built. Ranulf also built a wall around the White Tower in London, creating an inner area. A new hall was also built at Westminster, and the outer walls of Westminster Hall still stand today. He started building a church at Christchurch at Twynham, which King Rufus had given him. After Rufus died, the church was taken from Ranulf, and building stopped. However, parts of the current church, like the crypts, date from Ranulf's building work.

Under King Henry I

Entrance to Durham Cathedral

When King Henry I of England took the throne, he put Ranulf in the Tower of London on 15 August 1100. Ranulf was accused of stealing money. However, his guard, William de Mandeville, allowed the bishop to escape on 3 February 1101. Ranulf was not only the first prisoner in the Tower but also the first to escape from it! A popular story says the bishop climbed down from his cell window using a rope that friends had hidden for him in a wine bottle. His friends had a ship ready to take Ranulf, some of his treasures, and his elderly mother to Normandy. He found safety across the English Channel with Henry's brother, Robert Curthose, where he became one of the duke's main advisors. King Henry took away Ranulf's lands in 1101, and the new Archbishop of York, Gerard, removed him from his bishopric. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm, arranged for Ranulf to be tried in a church court for simony (buying or selling church positions), and a church order was issued against Ranulf.

As Robert's advisor, Ranulf encouraged the duke to challenge Henry's claim to the English throne. Historians say that Ranulf "had to provide the strategic vision and energy that Duke Robert lacked." Other historians agree that Ranulf's arrival helped Robert plan an invasion. Ranulf was in charge of organizing ships for the duke's invasion of England. He also convinced some of Henry's ships to switch sides, which allowed Robert's fleet to land safely. Robert invaded England in July 1101 with Ranulf. However, Robert agreed to the Treaty of Alton on 2 August 1101, giving up his claim to the English throne. Although no old writers mention Ranulf being at Alton, he probably was there. Ranulf was forgiven in the treaty and got his bishopric back, but he chose to stay with Robert for five more years. Some historians believe the treaty was mostly Ranulf's idea, as a way to save his church career in England.

Robert rewarded Ranulf for his advice during the invasion by letting him manage the church area of Lisieux. After Robert was defeated by Henry at Tinchebray in 1106, Ranulf was among the first to make peace with Henry and returned to Durham. He then retired from political life. Henry had already replaced him with Roger of Salisbury, a skilled financial expert who was much more popular. Although some historians have thought that Ranulf was secretly working for Henry while in Normandy, it seems Ranulf was mainly looking out for himself and his family.

In 1108, Ranulf became involved in a disagreement between Archbishop Anselm and the new Archbishop of York, Thomas. The argument was about whether Thomas should promise obedience to Anselm. Because Anselm refused to make Thomas a bishop without this promise, and Thomas refused to promise, Thomas couldn't make other bishops himself. Ranulf wrote to Anselm, asking if he could act for Thomas and make Thurgot the Bishop of St Andrew's. In September 1108, Anselm wrote back to Ranulf, saying that only Thomas or Anselm himself could make Thurgot or any other bishops. Later, Ranulf tried to bribe King Henry to take Thomas's side. Thurgot had been a leader at Durham Cathedral but had disagreed with Ranulf. Ranulf arranged for him to be chosen for St Andrew's as a way to solve their argument.

It was Ranulf who made Thurstan, the chosen Archbishop of York, a priest in 1115. However, Thurstan had to wait another four years to become a bishop. Ranulf attended a church meeting called the Council of Reims in 1119, led by Pope Callixtus II. In 1125, John of Crema, a special representative from the Pope, visited Durham to investigate accusations against the bishop.

Death and Legacy

A modern view from Durham Cathedral looking towards Durham Castle across Palace Green.

Ranulf worked to finish the cathedral that the previous bishop, William de St-Calais, had started. He also strengthened Durham by building a wall around Durham Castle. He built Norham Castle to help defend the Tweed River. He also gave money to the church at Christchurch, Hampshire. He built or expanded other churches, including the one at Christchurch and St. Martin's in Dover. The first stone bridge in Durham, called Framwellgate Bridge, was finished under his direction in 1120. It was described as "wonderfully made." He also cleared and leveled the Palace Green in Durham, the area between the castle and the cathedral.

While old writers mostly criticized Ranulf for his behavior, the monks at his own cathedral thought highly of him. They liked his building projects and how he protected the rights of Durham. Even though he took some of the cathedral's income, the money was used to finish rebuilding the cathedral. Later, he gave the income back to the monks and even increased their funds. When he died, the cathedral walls were finished up to the "covering," which likely means the vaulted ceiling.

Ranulf invited smart people to his home and improved how the diocese was managed by dividing it into smaller church areas. Ranulf also oversaw the moving of Saint Cuthbert's holy items to a new tomb in a grand ceremony. He was also a supporter of the holy man Saint Godric, and they became friends.

One of Ranulf's brothers was Fulcher, who was Bishop of Lisieux in 1101. Another brother was Osbern, who worked for King Rufus. His last brother was Geoffrey. Fulcher might have been made bishop so Ranulf could use the church's money while he was in exile in Normandy. Ranulf had a son named Thomas of Lisieux, who also became Bishop of Lisieux right after his uncle. Like his uncle, he might have been appointed so his father could use the church's money. Ranulf had a partner named Alveva or Ælfgifu, who was the mother of at least two of his sons. When Ranulf became bishop, he arranged for her to marry a local official in Huntingdon. He remained on good terms with both Alveva and her husband, often staying with them when he traveled from Durham. Alveva and Ranulf's son Elias held a church position in London and worked for King Henry I. Ranulf's son Ralf was a priest and also held a church position in London. He worked for Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury after 1138. Some of Ranulf's sons were educated in Laon under William de Corbeil, who was one of Ranulf's clerks. One of Ranulf's nephews, Ralf, was a church official in Northumberland. During the reign of King Stephen, he helped keep the Durham area loyal to Stephen. Other nephews were Osbert, who was the sheriff of Durham, and Robert, Richard, and William, who held lands. William de Corbeil, who was not related to Ranulf, became one of Ranulf's clerks and was later chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1123.

Ranulf died on 5 September 1128. He was buried in his chapter house in Durham. His tomb was opened in 1874, and his skeleton was found. It showed that he was about 5 feet 9 inches tall. He loved nice clothes and always dressed richly. While he was good at collecting money for the king, he was also generous to his own people and, later in life, gave a lot to the poor. His bishop's staff and ring were found in his grave, and they were quite simple. An interesting thing about his grave was that he was buried on top of a layer of charcoal, which was placed over layers of lime and dirt.

Ranulf's reputation has suffered because old writers, especially monks, disliked both him and King Rufus. Many writers criticized his harsh financial methods and his behavior. Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury wrote to Pope Paschal II while Ranulf was in exile, calling Ranulf "a rent collector of the worst possible reputation." Another writer said Flambard was a "plunderer of the rich, destroyer of the poor." Historians from the Victorian era, like E. A. Freeman, strongly criticized Ranulf, with Freeman calling him a "malignant genius." However, modern historians have a more balanced view. They see him, along with his successor Roger of Salisbury, as important managers of the king's money and justice.

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