Gervase of Blois
Gervase of Blois was the Abbot of Westminster in England between c.1138 to c.1157. Historically Gervase has had a bad reputation for mismanaging the abbey, although modern historians have re-evaluated his performance as abbot.
Description
Gervase of Blois was the illegitimate son of King Stephen of England and his mistress, Damette.[1] His father ensured that he was appointed as the Abbot of Westminster Abbey in the second half of 1138; the abbey would have hoped to receive additional royal funding as a result.[2] Gervase was very young to be appointed abbot, but despite this probably attended the Second Lateran Council the following year.[3] Working with the Prior Osbert of Clare, Gervase unsuccessfully attempted to have King Edward the Confessor canonized; the abbey held the remains of the king which would have brought in valuable pilgrims had it been canonised.[4]
Pope Innocent II ordered Gervase to reform the estate management of the abbey; historians have disagreed over the years about whether the pope was referring to long-standing issues of malpractice, or ones that had appeared during his term of office.[5] Pope Eugenius III appears to have thought Gervase a reasonable abbot, granting the abbey privileges in the 1140s, and Gervase got on well with his fellow senior clergy.[6]
In 1154, however, Stephen died, being replaced by his nephew, Henry II, putting Gervase's position at risk.[7] Gervase was accused by Henry of mishandling the abbey's estates and he was dismissed from post in 1157, albeit without trial, dying shortly afterwards.[8] He was replaced by Master Laurence from Durham, a supporter of the new king.[9]
Notes
Bibliography
- Barlow, Frank. (1970) Edward the Confessor. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-01671-2.
- Mason, Emma. (1996) Westminster Abbey and its people, c.1050-c.1216. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-396-4.
