Lanfranc

=**Lanfranc**=

toc Lanfranc (circa 1005 – 1089 AD) was a prominent religious scholar of the early Norman period, and [|Archbishop of Canterbury] under @William the Conqueror. He is most noted for his involvement in a theological debate with Berengar of Tours, his advocacy of Canterbury as the prime church in England, and his close relationship with William I.

Life Before Canterbury
Lanfranc was born in Pavia in approximately 1005 AD. Little is known of his parentage or ancestry, but it is believed that he was orphaned at a young age and spent the majority of his young life devoted to education and travelling across Europe. In 1042, Lanfranc became prior at Bec Abbey in Normandy. While at Bec, he became well respected as a scholar, writer and theologian.

Eucharistic Dispute
During his time at Bec, Lanfranc became involved in a dispute with Berengar of Tours regarding the Eucharist and the transubstantiation of Christ. Berengar stimulated considerable controversy in the debate when he questioned the actual transubstantiation of Christ in the Eucharist. Lanfranc's counter-argument and condemnation of Berengar became his //Libera de corpore et sanguine Domini,// which in turn became the standard commentary of the Eucharistic debate of the time.

Archbishop of Canterbury
Lanfranc was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070 until his death in 1089. During this time, he was responsible for initiating several important reforms. The first of these was his ongoing advocacy of Canterbury as the top diocese in England. He engaged in a series of communications with both @Pope Gregory VII and Archbishop Thomas of York, arguing his case for Canterbury's primacy. This was the beginning of what is now known as the Canterbury-York dispute, and continued throughout early English history.

Lanfranc's position as Archbishop of Canterbury is made more significant by the fact that his contemporary King was William I of England, or William the Conqueror. The close relationship between the two men meant that Lanfranc held considerable political influence at that time.

Under William I
Lanfranc and William I's relationship began with Lanfranc's opposition to William's marriage to Matilda of Flanders. However, as Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranc worked closely with William I and relations between Church and State were among some of the best of the time during the respective reigns of the two men. Lanfranc is believed to have foiled a conspiracy plot against Willi am I between the Earls of Hereford and Norfolk. He is also credited with the securing of the line of succession from William I after his death, to William Rufus. Church and State relations were markedly better in the time of Lanfranc than they had been previously, or would be after his death.