William Zouche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Zouche |
|
|---|---|
| Archbishop of York | |
| Elected | 2 May 1340 |
| Enthroned | 1342 |
| Reign ended | 19 July 1352 |
| Predecessor | William Melton |
| Successor | John Thoresby |
| Other posts | Dean of York |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | c. 1317 |
| Consecration | 7 July 1342 by Pope Clement VI |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1299 Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire |
| Died | 19 July 1352 Cawood Palace, Yorkshire |
| Buried | York Minster |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
William de la Zouche (born 1299, died 1352) was an important person in medieval England. He served as the Lord Treasurer of England, which meant he managed the country's money. He also became the Archbishop of York, a very high position in the church, from 1342 until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William de la Zouche was born in 1299 in a place called Lubbesthorpe in Leicestershire, England. He was the youngest son of Sir Roger de la Zouche. His family was well-known, and his uncle was the first Baron Zouche.
William went to Oxford University, a famous school even back then. He studied hard and earned degrees in arts and church law. After his studies, he decided to join the church, which was called taking holy orders.
A Career in Government
William de la Zouche had a busy career working for the King of England, Edward III. He started as a royal chaplain, which means he was a priest who advised the king.
Working with the King's Money
William then moved into the government's finance department, called the Treasury. He held several important jobs:
- From 1329 to 1334, he was the Keeper of the Wardrobe. This job was about managing the king's household expenses and supplies.
- From 1334 to 1335, he was the Controller of the Wardrobe, helping to oversee the finances.
- From 1335 to 1337, he served as the Lord Privy Seal. This person was in charge of the king's personal seal, used to approve important documents.
Becoming Lord Treasurer
In 1337, William was promoted to Lord Treasurer. This was a very powerful role. As Lord Treasurer, he was responsible for collecting taxes and keeping the king's money safe. He held this job twice: first from 1337 to 1338, and again from 1338 to 1340.
A Leader in the Church
Besides his government roles, William de la Zouche also rose through the ranks of the church.
Important Church Roles
Before becoming an archbishop, he held several other significant church positions:
- In 1329, he became the Archdeacon of Barnstaple in Devon. An archdeacon is a senior church official who helps the bishop.
- In 1330, he became the Archdeacon of Exeter.
- In 1336, he was made the Dean of York. The Dean is the head of the group of priests who run a large church, like a cathedral.
Becoming Archbishop of York
When the Archbishop of York, William Melton, died, King Edward III wanted his own secretary to get the job. However, the priests (called Canons) at York Minster (the main church in York) chose William de la Zouche instead. This happened on May 2, 1340.
The king tried to stop Zouche's election, but it didn't work. After two years, William de la Zouche was officially made Archbishop in a special ceremony in Avignon, France, on July 7, 1342. This ceremony was led by Pope Clement VI, the head of the Catholic Church.
Service to the King and Country
Even though William had fallen out of favor with King Edward III for a while, they later made up.
Defending England
In 1346, William de la Zouche was given an important military role. He was appointed a Warden of the Marches. This meant he was in charge of defending the border areas between England and Scotland.
In this role, he helped lead English troops against the Scots. They won a big victory at the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham on October 18, 1346. The king was very grateful for his leadership and asked him to continue watching over the Scottish border.
Facing the Black Death
While William was Archbishop, a terrible disease called the Black Death spread across England and his church region. This plague caused many deaths. In 1349, William asked the Pope for permission to create more burial grounds and to train new priests to replace those who had died.
Later Life and Legacy
William de la Zouche passed away on July 19, 1352, at Cawood Palace. He was buried in York Minster, the grand church where he had served as Archbishop.
He had started building a special small chapel, called a chantry chapel, next to the main choir of York Minster. These chapels were built so that prayers could be said for the person who founded them. However, this chapel was later taken down when the church was expanded, so no trace of it remains today.
See also
- Baron Zouche
