Boniface of Savoy

Boniface of Savoy (c. 1207 – 18 July 1270)

Boniface of Savoy was a prominent medieval figure who held significant ecclesiastical positions in both Savoy and England, serving as Bishop of Belley and later as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Born into the influential House of Savoy, he was the son of Thomas I, Count of Savoy. His familial ties, particularly the marriage of his niece Eleanor of Provence to King Henry III of England, played a crucial role in his ecclesiastical ascent.

Early Life and Family Connections

Born around 1207, Boniface was the eleventh child of Thomas I, Count of Savoy, and Margaret of Geneva. His family was deeply involved in both secular and ecclesiastical affairs; several of his brothers also held positions as clergymen or counts. This noble background and strategic family alliances, such as his niece's marriage to the English king, were instrumental in securing his advancement within the Church.

Ecclesiastical Career and Archbishophood

Boniface's early ecclesiastical career included serving as the Prior of Nantua and Bishop of Belley. His journey to becoming Archbishop of Canterbury was facilitated by King Henry III, who sought his election. Pope Innocent IV confirmed his appointment in 1243, partly to appease the English monarch. Boniface did not immediately take up residence in England, attending the First Council of Lyon and being consecrated there in 1245. He was finally enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral in 1249, after spending years abroad and arranging a marriage for another niece. Matthew Paris famously described Boniface as being "noted more for his birth than for his brains," reflecting a contemporary perception that his status was more important than his spiritual aptitude. He spent considerable time away from England, focusing on advancing his family's interests on the continent. Despite these absences, he undertook the significant task of clearing the substantial debt of over 22,000 marks that the archdiocese had inherited, a feat he achieved by securing the right to tax his clergy and by working to support the canonization of Edmund of Abingdon.

Controversies and Conflicts

Boniface's tenure as Archbishop was marked by considerable conflict. He clashed with his suffragan bishops, who resented his attempts at close supervision and his exactions during visitations, leading to appeals to the papacy. He also engaged in disputes with King Henry III's half-brothers, particularly Aymer de Valence, over issues such as a hospital in Southwark, which even led to the plundering of the Archbishop's palace at Lambeth. His actions, such as rejecting Robert Passelewe as Bishop of Chichester and attempting to promote other candidates, also caused friction with royal authority. During the turbulent period of Simon de Montfort's struggle with King Henry III, Boniface initially supported Montfort but later sided with the king, even excommunicating the barons opposing him. His decrees from a 1261 church council denouncing royal limitations on ecclesiastical courts were seen as an act of ecclesiastical revolt.

Death and Legacy

Boniface of Savoy left England in November 1268 and died in Savoy on July 18, 1270. He was buried with his family in the Cistercian abbey of Hautecombe. After his death, his tomb became the object of a cult. His body was found remarkably preserved when his tomb was opened in 1580. The tomb and effigy were destroyed during the French Revolution, but a new tomb was built in 1839, the same year he was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI. His feast day is celebrated on July 4th. Despite the criticisms leveled against him during his lifetime, modern historians view Boniface as a responsible and reforming archbishop.