Reinald Macer

Reinald Macer
Bishop of Ross
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Diocese of Ross
In office	1195–1213
Predecessor	Gregoir
Successor	Andreas de Moravia
Orders
Consecration	10 September 1195
Personal details
Born	unknown unknown
Died	13 December 1213
Previous post	Monk of Melrose Abbey

Reinald Macer [also called Reginald] (died 1213) was a medieval Cistercian monk and bishop, active in the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of William the Lion. Originally a monk of Melrose Abbey, he rose to become Bishop of Ross in 1195, and held this position until his death in 1213. He is given the nickname Macer in Roger of Howden's Chronica, a French word that meant "skinny".

It is thought possible that Reinald had been in the company of Roland, Lord of Galloway, at some point, perhaps being involved with Roland's foundation of Glenluce Abbey in January 1192; again on purely speculative grounds, he may have had some involvement at Kinloss Abbey in the late 1180s. Reinald was a monk of Melrose Abbey when, on 27 February 1195, he was elected to succeed Gregoir as Bishop of Ross, an episcopal see whose seat at that time was located in Rosemarkie.

His election was recorded and indeed celebrated by the Melrose Chronicle, written at the abbey:

This historian Richard Oram declared that his appointment "provided the crown with a dependable ally in an influential position, within a region where its authority continued to be challenged". The occurrence of the election at Dunfermline, a long way from Rosemarkie, was probably to secure royal control.

Reinald, as "Bishop-elect" (electo Rosensi), is found witnessing a confirmation by the king of a grant by Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow, to Jedburgh Abbey on 4 July; it was issued at Jedburgh. Between his election and consecration, Reinald was found witnessing a charter by Bishop Jocelin to Melrose Abbey. The Chronicle of Melrose goes on to say that Reinald was consecrated at St Andrews by John, Bishop of Dunkeld.

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