William de Blois (bishop of Lincoln)
| William de Blois | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Lincoln | |
| Elected | about 6 July 1203 |
| Term ended | 10 May 1206 |
| Predecessor | Hugh of Avalon |
| Successor | Hugh of Wells |
| Other posts | Precentor of Lincoln |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 24 August 1203 by William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Bishop of London |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 10 May 1206 |
William de Blois (or William of Blois; died 1206) was a medieval Bishop of Lincoln. He first served in the household of Hugh du Puiset, the Bishop of Durham, then later served the household of Hugh of Avalon, Bishop of Lincoln. After Hugh's death and a two-year vacancy in the see, or bishopric, Blois was elected to succeed Hugh in 1203. Little is known about his episcopate, although 86 of his documents survive from that time period. He died in 1206 and was buried in his cathedral.
Possibly related to Hugh de Puiset the bishop of Durham, who he went on to serve later in life, Blois probably came from Blois in France. His relationship with Puiset reinforces the likelihood of his origins being in Blois, as Puiset was a nephew of King Stephen of England and Stephen's brother Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester, both of whom came from Blois. Nothing else is known of Blois' origins. He was titled magister, implying that he attended a university and was well-educated. He taught at the school of Paris for a while, where at one point a townswoman tried to seduce him, resulting in the medieval writer Gerald of Wales later recounting the humorous story of how Blois resisted the lady's advances.
Blois was frequently a witness to Puiset's charters, and was named as rector of a parish church in the city of Durham, appointed by Puiset. By the late 1180s, Blois had moved to the household of Hugh of Avalon, the Bishop of Lincoln. Blois was a subdean, an ecclesiastical official, of the diocese of Lincoln by 22 March 1194, probably from about 1189. He was a frequent witness to Hugh's charters in the late 1180s. Although he was now serving Hugh, Blois did not entirely quit the service of Puiset, and was present at Puiset's deathbed in 1195. He was named precentor of Lincoln in 1197, in succession to the medieval writer Walter Map. Besides Hugh and Puiset, he also served Pope Innocent III. He may be the Master William of Blois who is a witness to some Scottish charters.
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