Ceolnoth or Ceolnoþ (pronounced [ˈtʃeːolnoθ]; died 870) was a medieval English Archbishop of Canterbury. Although later chroniclers stated he had previously held ecclesiastical office in Canterbury, there is no contemporary evidence of this, and his first appearance in history is when he became archbishop in 833. Ceolnoth faced two problems as archbishop – raids and invasions by the Vikings and a new political situation resulting from a change in overlordship from one kingdom to another during the early part of his archiepiscopate. Ceolnoth attempted to solve both problems by coming to an agreement with his new overlords for protection in 838. Ceolnoth's later years in office were marked by more Viking raids and a decline in monastic life in his archbishopric.
Gervase of Canterbury wrote at the end of the twelfth century that Ceolnoth was Dean of the see of Canterbury previous to being elected to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, but this story has no confirmation in contemporary records.[1] There is no sign of him being associated with either Canterbury or Kent, the region where Canterbury is located, prior to his elevation as archbishop. Given the length of his archiepiscopate, he was probably a young man when he was elected to Canterbury.[2] Ceolnoth was consecrated archbishop on 27 July 833.[3] Upon becoming archbishop, Ceolnoth had to deal with two problems – first the Viking attacks on his archbishopric and the surrounding lands in Kent and second the newly ascendant kings of Wessex who had just gained control of Kent. Previously, the Mercian kings had ruled Kent.[2]
In 836, Ceolnoth presided, with Wiglaf of Mercia, over a council held at Croft attended by the clergy of the southern part of Britain.[4] This was the last time that the archbishop worked in concert with a Mercian king as, after this, he was an attendee at the Wessex royal court instead of the Mercian.[2] In 838 a council was held at Kingston upon Thames where Ceolnoth made an alliance with the West Saxon kings Egbert and Æthelwulf.[2] This agreement gave control of all of the free minsters under Canterbury's authority to the king in return for protection from Viking raids.[5] Ceolnoth also ceded the right to influence the election of abbots within Kent to the king.[2] In return, Egbert received the support of Ceolnoth for the succession of Egbert's son Æthelwulf as king. When Egbert died shortly after this, Æthelwulf succeeded his father and became the first son to follow his father as king of Wessex in almost two centuries.[6] Ceolnoth also recovered control of some lands that had been lost by Canterbury.[5] The end result of this agreement was that the Wessex kings became the secular protectors of the churches and monasteries of the archdiocese of Canterbury.[2]
Later life and death
During Ceolnoth's archbishopric, monastic life declined under the pressure of the Viking attacks, and there was a noticeable decline in the quality of the books and other works produced by the scriptoriums. A number of monasteries died out under the pressure of the raids by the invaders, who wintered over in Kent in 851 and 855.[2] He held councils in 839 and 845, the second at London.[7] During his later years in office, he was assisted by four clerics, who appear to have been or acted as archdeacons, one of the earliest appearances of this office in England.[8] Ceolnoth is also known to have corresponded with Pope Leo IV.[9]
Archbishop Ceolnoth died on 4 February 870.[3] Although monastic and secular life suffered during the later part of Ceolnoth's archbishopric, his agreement with Egbert set the foundation for the co-operation between the archbishops of Canterbury and the kings of England in the future.[2]
Citations
^Brooks Early History of the Church of Canterbury pp. 143–145
^ abcdefghWareham "Ceolnoth" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^ abFryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 214
Blair, John P. (2005). The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-921117-5.
Brooks, Nicholas (1984). The Early History of the Church of Canterbury: Christ Church from 597 to 1066. London: Leicester University Press. ISBN0-7185-0041-5.
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
Kirby, D. P. (2000). The Earliest English Kings. New York: Routledge. ISBN0-415-24211-8.
Wareham, A. F. (2004). "Ceolnoth (d. 870)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4999. Retrieved 7 November 2007. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
ceolnoth, ceolnoþ, pronounced, ˈtʃeːolnoθ, died, medieval, english, archbishop, canterbury, although, later, chroniclers, stated, previously, held, ecclesiastical, office, canterbury, there, contemporary, evidence, this, first, appearance, history, when, becam. Ceolnoth or Ceolnoth pronounced ˈtʃeːolno8 died 870 was a medieval English Archbishop of Canterbury Although later chroniclers stated he had previously held ecclesiastical office in Canterbury there is no contemporary evidence of this and his first appearance in history is when he became archbishop in 833 Ceolnoth faced two problems as archbishop raids and invasions by the Vikings and a new political situation resulting from a change in overlordship from one kingdom to another during the early part of his archiepiscopate Ceolnoth attempted to solve both problems by coming to an agreement with his new overlords for protection in 838 Ceolnoth s later years in office were marked by more Viking raids and a decline in monastic life in his archbishopric CeolnothArchbishop of CanterburyTerm ended4 February 870PredecessorFeologildSuccessorAEthelredOther post s possibly Dean of CanterburyOrdersConsecration833 possibly 27 JulyPersonal detailsDied4 February 870 Contents 1 Archbishop 2 Later life and death 3 Citations 4 References 5 External linksArchbishop EditGervase of Canterbury wrote at the end of the twelfth century that Ceolnoth was Dean of the see of Canterbury previous to being elected to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury but this story has no confirmation in contemporary records 1 There is no sign of him being associated with either Canterbury or Kent the region where Canterbury is located prior to his elevation as archbishop Given the length of his archiepiscopate he was probably a young man when he was elected to Canterbury 2 Ceolnoth was consecrated archbishop on 27 July 833 3 Upon becoming archbishop Ceolnoth had to deal with two problems first the Viking attacks on his archbishopric and the surrounding lands in Kent and second the newly ascendant kings of Wessex who had just gained control of Kent Previously the Mercian kings had ruled Kent 2 In 836 Ceolnoth presided with Wiglaf of Mercia over a council held at Croft attended by the clergy of the southern part of Britain 4 This was the last time that the archbishop worked in concert with a Mercian king as after this he was an attendee at the Wessex royal court instead of the Mercian 2 In 838 a council was held at Kingston upon Thames where Ceolnoth made an alliance with the West Saxon kings Egbert and AEthelwulf 2 This agreement gave control of all of the free minsters under Canterbury s authority to the king in return for protection from Viking raids 5 Ceolnoth also ceded the right to influence the election of abbots within Kent to the king 2 In return Egbert received the support of Ceolnoth for the succession of Egbert s son AEthelwulf as king When Egbert died shortly after this AEthelwulf succeeded his father and became the first son to follow his father as king of Wessex in almost two centuries 6 Ceolnoth also recovered control of some lands that had been lost by Canterbury 5 The end result of this agreement was that the Wessex kings became the secular protectors of the churches and monasteries of the archdiocese of Canterbury 2 Later life and death EditDuring Ceolnoth s archbishopric monastic life declined under the pressure of the Viking attacks and there was a noticeable decline in the quality of the books and other works produced by the scriptoriums A number of monasteries died out under the pressure of the raids by the invaders who wintered over in Kent in 851 and 855 2 He held councils in 839 and 845 the second at London 7 During his later years in office he was assisted by four clerics who appear to have been or acted as archdeacons one of the earliest appearances of this office in England 8 Ceolnoth is also known to have corresponded with Pope Leo IV 9 Archbishop Ceolnoth died on 4 February 870 3 Although monastic and secular life suffered during the later part of Ceolnoth s archbishopric his agreement with Egbert set the foundation for the co operation between the archbishops of Canterbury and the kings of England in the future 2 Citations Edit Brooks Early History of the Church of Canterbury pp 143 145 a b c d e f g h Wareham Ceolnoth Oxford Dictionary of National Biography a b Fryde et al Handbook of British Chronology p 214 Kirby Earliest English Kings p 158 a b Blair Church in Anglo Saxon Society p 124 Pollard Alfred the Great p 39 Keynes Ceolnoth Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo Saxon England Stenton Anglo Saxon England p 440 Kirby Earliest English Kings p 164References EditBlair John P 2005 The Church in Anglo Saxon Society Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 921117 5 Brooks Nicholas 1984 The Early History of the Church of Canterbury Christ Church from 597 to 1066 London Leicester University Press ISBN 0 7185 0041 5 Fryde E B Greenway D E Porter S Roy I 1996 Handbook of British Chronology Third revised ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 56350 X Kirby D P 2000 The Earliest English Kings New York Routledge ISBN 0 415 24211 8 Keynes Simon 2001 Ceolnoth In Lapidge Michael Blair John Keynes Simon Scragg Donald eds The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo Saxon England Malden MA Blackwell Publishing pp 92 93 ISBN 978 0 631 22492 1 Pollard Justin 2005 Alfred the Great The Man Who Made England London John Murray ISBN 978 0 7195 6666 0 Stenton F M 1971 Anglo Saxon England Third ed Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 280139 5 Wareham A F 2004 Ceolnoth d 870 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 4999 Retrieved 7 November 2007 subscription or UK public library membership required External links EditCeolnoth 3 at Prosopography of Anglo Saxon EnglandChristian titlesPreceded byFeologild Archbishop of Canterbury833 870 Succeeded byAEthelred Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ceolnoth amp oldid 1137348319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
