Sewal de Bovil
Sewal de Bovil (died 1258) was a medieval Archbishop of York.
Sewal de Bovil | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of York | |
 Tomb of Bovil in York Minster | |
| Elected | c. 1 October 1255 |
| Term ended | 10 May 1258 |
| Predecessor | Walter de Gray |
| Successor | Godfrey Ludham |
| Other post(s) | Dean of York |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 23 July 1256 by Walter de Cantilupe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sewal de Bovil |
| Died | 10 May 1258 |
| Buried | York Minster |
Life
Nothing is known of Bovil's origins or his parents, but he attended Oxford University at around the same time as Edmund of Abingdon, who became Bovil's good friend.[1] He first appears as a canon of York Minster in 1236, and was holding the prebend of Fenton by October 1240.[2] He was Archdeacon of York by January 1248,[3] but had been named Dean of York by 21 September 1249.[4] He earned a doctor of theology title by 1244.[1]
Bovil was archbishop for only two years between 1256 and his death in 1258. He was selected about 1 October 1255 and was consecrated on 23 July 1256,[5] at York by Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester.[1] He received a papal dispensation to become archbishop because he was illegitimate on 11 March 1256.[6] Pope Alexander IV then provided Jordan, an Italian, to the now vacant deanery, but Bovil objected and attempted to keep Jordan out.[1] Alexander IV then excommunicated the archbishop in 1257.[6] After a compromise was reached whereby Jordan received a pension, Bovil was absolved. Godfrey Ludham was then promoted to the deanery. In July 1257 he was appointed to a commission to mediate between King Alexander III of Scotland and the Scottish nobles.[1]
The archbishop died on 10 May 1258 and was buried in York Minster.[6] Matthew Paris wrote that he was "a humble and holy man well skilled in law and other sciences."[7]
Citations
- Kingsford "Bovill, Sewal de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Prebendaries: Fenton
- Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archdeacons: York
- Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Deans
- Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 282
- Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops
- Quoted in Kingsford "Bovill, Sewal de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
References
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Archbishops". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Archdeacons: York". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Deans". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Prebenderies: Fenton". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- Kingsford, C. L.; revised by Philippa Hoskin (2004). "Bovill, Sewal de (d. 1257)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25133. Retrieved 12 November 2007. (subscription or UK public library membership required)