John de Gray or de Grey was an English prelate who served as Bishop of Norwich. He was also elected but unconfirmed Archbishop of Canterbury. Some describe de Gray as a native of Norfolk; he was likely descended from the Norman knight Anchetil de Greye. His nephew Walter de Gray, later Archbishop of York, secured the office of Lord Chancellor with his uncle’s help in 1205.
About John de Gray in brief
John de Gray or de Grey was an English prelate who served as Bishop of Norwich. He was also elected but unconfirmed Archbishop of Canterbury. De Gray was employed in the service of Prince John even before John became king. He continued in royal service after his elevation to the episcopate, lending the King money and undertaking diplomatic missions on his behalf. In 1205 King John attempted to further reward de Gray with a translation to the archbishopric of Canterbury, but a disputed election process led to de Gray’s selection being quashed by Pope Innocent III in 1206. He then travelled to Rome to secure a papal pardon after the final settlement of John and Innocent’s dispute over the bishop’s abortive elevation to Canterbury. After securing his pardon de Gray was appointed Bishop of Durham, but he died on his way back to England. He built a palace in his diocese and several castles in Ireland. While bishop, de Gray often lent the king money, and on one occasion held the royal regalia as security for the repayment of a loan. Some describe de Gray as a native of Norfolk; he was likely descended from the Norman knight Anchetil de Greye. His nephew Walter de Gray, later Archbishop of York, secured the office of Lord Chancellor with his uncle’s help in 1205. He also was instrumental in securing the selection of his nephew as Lord Chancellor, as he was a surety for Walter’s payment of a fine of 5000 marks to acquire the position.
John ascended the throne of England in 1199, with de Gray becoming Archdeacon of Cleveland in March 1200. He also served as John’s secretary, and frequently as a deputy for the Lord Chancellor,. Hubert Walter, before April that year. John was one of the few men King John trusted throughout his life. He spent until 1213 attempting to impose royal government on the Anglo-Norman barons and the native Irish in that country. John abandoned Normandy in 1203, effectively relinquishing control of the duchy to Philip of Barfleur, and went to England with the companions on the journey to the port ofBarfleur. After Hubert’s death in July 1205 he went on to become the king’s governor of Ireland. He died in 1213, and was buried at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He is buried alongside his nephew Walter, who became Archbishop ofYork in 1215. His funeral was held in Westminster Abbey on the same day as the death of Archbishop Walter. He had been attending a provincial church council held by Archbishop Walter, which de Gray had was attending, when he was killed in a car accident in 1204. He may have been born in Norfolk, and died in Norwich in about 1200. His son Walter was later elected Bishop of York; he died in December 1215, and he was buried in St Mary’s Church in London in March 1216. John and Hubert had a long dispute between the papacy and the King over the appointment of Stephen Langton as archbishop.
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This page is based on the article John de Gray published in Wikipedia (as of Nov. 04, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
