Robert of Jumièges

Robert of Jumièges was a pivotal, albeit brief, figure in 11th-century English ecclesiastical and political history, serving as the first Norman Archbishop of Canterbury. His tenure, lasting approximately eighteen months from 1051 to 1052, was characterized by significant conflict and ultimately led to his deposition and exile.

Life and Historical Context

Before his elevation to Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert had a distinguished career in Normandy. He served as prior of the Abbey of St Ouen at Rouen and, from 1037, as abbot of Jumièges Abbey. It was during his time as abbot that he initiated substantial building projects in the new Romanesque style. Robert developed a close friendship with Edward the Confessor, who was living in exile in Normandy. Upon Edward's accession to the English throne in 1042, Robert accompanied him back to England. Edward appointed Robert as Bishop of London in 1044, marking him as one of the first episcopal appointments of his reign.

Archbishop of Canterbury and Political Conflict

Robert's appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1051 was a direct challenge to the influence of the powerful Earl Godwin and his family. The king's decision overrode the cathedral chapter's election of a candidate favored by Godwin, signaling a royal willingness to contest the earl's traditional patronage rights. Robert's time as archbishop was immediately fraught with tension. He clashed with Earl Godwin over attempts to recover lands that had fallen into Godwin's family's possession. Additionally, Robert refused to consecrate Spearhafoc, Edward's choice for Bishop of London, a decision that further strained relations and may have been motivated by personal ambition or a desire to thwart Godwin's influence.

The rift between Robert and Godwin culminated in 1052. At a council in Gloucester, Robert accused Godwin of plotting against the king. Following this, and with Godwin's eventual return to England, Robert fled the country. He was subsequently declared an outlaw and deposed from his archbishopric.

Legacy and Artistic Patronage

Robert's deposition and exile were later cited by William the Conqueror as one of the justifications for his invasion of England. There is also a claim, debated by historians, that Robert informed Duke William of Normandy that Edward wished for him to be his heir, possibly during a trip to Normandy in 1051 or 1052. Architecturally, Robert commissioned significant building work at Jumièges Abbey and is believed to have influenced the design of the church built at Westminster for Edward the Confessor, now Westminster Abbey, which was an early example of Romanesque architecture in England.

Robert's artistic patronage extended to the transfer of important Anglo-Saxon church treasures, including relics and illuminated manuscripts, to Jumièges. Among these were the "Missal of Robert of Jumièges" and the "Benedictional of Archbishop Robert," significant examples of the Winchester style of illumination that influenced Norman art.