Robert of Winchelsea or Robert de Winchelsea (c. 1245 - 1313) was a Christian theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury.
He studied at the university in Paris. He then became Master and Rector of the University in 1267. While in Paris, Robert read, and possibly met, Thomas Aquinas, and his own theology was thereafter purely scholastic. In 1283, he was appointed canon of St. Paul's in London, but it is unclear exactly when he returned to England. He was elected Archbishop of Canterbury in 1293. As Archbishop, he immediately fell afoul of King Edward I over the division of ecclesiastical law and secular law. In particular, Edward sought to tax the clergy, but Robert cited the bull of Pope Boniface VIII Clericis laicos (1297). Thus, Robert denied Edward monetary support for the war in France. As a countermeasure, Edward I confiscated Robert's own property for a time.
Winchelsea further irritated Edward with his opposition to the Bishop of Lichfield, Walter Langton, who was the King's Treasurer. In 1305, Edward's dependent, Bertrand de Got, became Pope Clement V. Clement V suspended Robert, who then went to the Papal court at Bordeaux. When Edward I died in 1307, Winchelsea returned to England at Edward II's behest. Robert had conflicts with Edward II as well. He aided the barons in their prosecution of Edward II by sentencing their enemies to excommunication.
Robert of Winchelsea's theological writings date primarily from his time at St. Paul's, where he delivered a number of quodibeta. The quaestiones disputatae from those sessions survive and illustrate his highly orthodox trinitarian views and his scholastic method.
After his death, miracles were reported at his Canterbury tomb, but several attempts at having Robert of Winchelsea canonized failed.
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Last updated: 08-13-2005 02:13:31
