William of Roskilde

William
Bishop
Died10 May 1074
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Feast2 September

William of Roskilde (Danish: Vilhelm, German: Wilhelm, Latin: Wilhelmus; died 8 May or 10 May c. 1074)[1] was a Danish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Roskilde in Denmark from about 1060.

Origin

Nothing is known about William's early life. A contemporary historian, Adam von Bremen, recounts him as a cleric serving Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen before becoming bishop of Roskilde, which suggests a German descent.[2] While the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus written a century later frames him as Anglo-Saxon who previously served Cnut the Great in England as his priest and clerk.[3]

Bishop of Roskilde

The sources around William's tenure as bishop are scarce. He is attributed with initiating the construction of Roskilde Cathedral that his successor completed in around 1080.[4]

According to Saxo Grammaticus, William had a close relationship with King Sweyn II that allowed him to secure valuable land and power for his bishopric. He also retells an appropriated fictional story based on a legend with Saint Ambrose and Theodosius I originally written by Paulinus the Deacon about murder and penitence to explain their relationship development.[5]

Death

William's death is commonly recorded on either 8 May or 10 May and around year 1074[2] because evidence suggest that he died before King Sweyn II[a] as the king selected his successor after he had passed.[1] William's remains were buried in Roskilde Cathedral.[6]

Sainthood

William of Roskilde's date of canonization is unknown,[b] but his memorial is observed by the Roman Catholic Church on September 2.[7][8][c]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ He died 28 April 1076.
  2. ^ See talk page for discussion if it ever took place.
  3. ^ These sources incorrectly state that William of Roskilde died in 1067 and King Sweyn before him without source.

Citations

  1. ^ a b Saxo Grammaticus 2015, p. 822, footnote 29.
  2. ^ a b Olrik 1904, pp. 588–589.
  3. ^ Saxo Grammaticus 2015, p. 787.
  4. ^ Saxo Grammaticus 2015, pp. 832–833.
  5. ^ Saxo Grammaticus 2015, pp. 807–817.
  6. ^ Saxo Grammaticus 2015, pp. 833.
  7. ^ Jones 2009.
  8. ^ Monks at St. Augustine's Abbey 1921, p. 271.

References

  • Saxo Grammaticus (2015). "Book eleven". In Friis-Jensen, Karsten (ed.). Oxford Medieval Texts: Saxo Grammaticus: Gesta Danorum: The History of the Danes, Vol. 2 (in English and Latin). Translated by Fischer, Peter. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 787–863. ISBN 9780198705765.
  • Jones, Terry (16 August 2009). "Vilhelm".
  • Monks at St. Augustine's Abbey (1921). The Book of saints; a dictionary of persons canonized or beatified by the Catholic Church (1 ed.). London: A. & C. Black, ltd. p. 275.
  • Olrik, Hans (1904). "Vilhelm". In Bricka, Carl Frederik (ed.). Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Vol. 18. Gyldendalske Boghandel. pp. 589–590. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
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