Introduction: the English Church as Anselm left it -- Ralph d'Escures: a different kind of Archbishop -- The road to Rome: Ralph of Canterbury, Thurstan of York, and the primacy dispute -- Roman holiday: William of Corbeil and the Canterbury forgeries -- Securing the future: William of Corbeil and the Anglo-Norman succession crisis -- Juggling act: archbishop, bishop, king, empress and pope -- The limits of power: Archbishop Theobald and his neighbors -- Trouble on the way: Theobald and the new regime -- Conclusion: the world as Becket found it.
In this unique volume in the Ashgate Archbishops of Canterbury series, Jean Truax examines the pontificates of three minor archbishops: Ralph d'Escures (1114-1122), William of Corbeil (1123-1136), and Theobald of Bec (1139-1161). By presenting their biographies, careers, thought and works as a unified period, Truax highlights crucial developments in the English church during the period of their pontificates from the death of Anselm to Becket.
Ralph, d'Escures, Archbishop of Canterbury, -1122. William, of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. Theobald, of Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury. Ralph, d'Escures, Archbishop of Canterbury. -1122 William, of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. Theobald, of Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury.