Walter de Langton
| Walter Langton | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield | |
| Elected | 20 February 1296 |
| Term ended | 9 November 1321 |
| Predecessor | Roger de Meyland |
| Successor | Roger Northburgh |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 23 December 1296 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1243 Leicestershire |
| Died | 9 November 1321 (aged 78) |
| Buried | Lichfield Cathedral |
| Denomination | Catholic |
Walter Langton (died 1321) was a bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and treasurer of England.
Langton was probably a native of Langton West in Leicestershire.
The life of Langton, was strongly influenced by his family, his uncle William Langton and mentor, Robert Burnell, Lord Chancellor of England. Then by the years in which he served King Edward I of England.
According to the Hughes paper: "In October 1298 Langton was licensed by Henry of Newark, archbishop of York, to ordain Walter and Robert Clipston, (his nephews), then aged seven and five years respectively, to all minor orders".
Although there is little research on the issue, Langton may have entered the church at a similar age. It is known that his uncle William Langton became Dean of York in 1262 and he may have come under his uncle's supervision at that time. In 1265 his uncle William Langton was elected by the brothers, Archbishop of York, but his appointment was superseded by the Pope's appointment of Bonaventura.
In public life both men took the name of their village of Langton West in Leicestershire, however their family name was Peverel. Hughes says: "Langton's register clarifies the bishop's connection with the Peverel families of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and shows that he was a Peverel by birth".
Copies of charters preserved in his register, by which Langton granted land and the advowson of the church of Adlingfleet, Yorkshire, to Selby Abbey, clearly states his paternity: Langton names himself as "the son and heir of Simon Peverel" Although there is little research on the issue, it may be supposed that this family of Peverels represented that of William Peverel the favourite illegitimate son of William the Conqueror. William Peverel built Peveril Castle at Castleton to protect the Royal Forest of the Peak of which he was the "High Steward". He also had a son called William Peverel, who attempted to poison Ranulf Earl of Chester and was accused of being a witch. As a result, the family had it estates confiscated by the Crown and it fell from honour. Although it occurred a considerable time before, it may be supposed that the two men adopted another name in public life to give them advantage which their family name no longer could.
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