Hugh de Balsham

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Hugh de Balsham


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Ely
Title = Bishop of Ely
Period = 1256–1286
Predecessor = William of Kilkenny
Successor =John Kirkby
ordination =
bishops =
post =sub-prior of Ely
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =16 June 1286
place of death =

Hugh de Balsham (or Hugo; died 16 June 1286) was a medieval English bishop.

Life

Nothing is known of his background, although during the dispute over his election he was alleged to have been of servile birth. He was a Benedictine monk at Ely,Owen "Balsham, Hugh of (d. 1286)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"] and appears first as sub-prior of the cathedral chapter there. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33863 British History Online Bishops of Ely] accessed on 25 October 2007] On the death of William of Kilkenny in 1256 the monks elected him Bishop of Ely, to the annoyance of King Henry III of England and Boniface of Savoy, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Boniface declared the election invalid, and attempted to install Adam Marsh into the see. Both sides appealed to Rome. The election was confirmed by Pope Alexander IV in 1257.

He was consecrated on 14 October 1257 by the pope. Hugh also promised that he would visit Rome every three years, but he was released from this promise in 1278.

He legislated against the sale of the sacraments.Moorman "Church Life in England" p. 228] He was present at the Parliament held at London in June 1264 that set up the government of Simon de Montfort.Powell "House of Lords" p. 195] Much of Balsham's time was spent in repairing damage done to his diocese by various people, first the royal administrators during the election dispute, and then later some of the baronial supporters who occupied the Isle of Ely in 1265. The bishop issued statues for his diocese, and worked to improve the administration of the diocese. He promoted the cult of Saint Ethelreda, the local saint of Ely. Gifts to the monks of the cathedral chapter as well as to churches in his diocese contributed to his reputation as a good bishop.

Hugh played an important role in the early history of Cambridge University. In 1280 he obtained a charter from the king allowing him to replace the secular brethren residing in the diocesan hospital of St John at Cambridge by "studious scholars"; a second charter four years later entirely differentiated these scholars from the brethren of the hospital, and for them Hugh de Balsham founded and endowed the college of Peterhouse,Moorman "Church Life in England" p. 161 footnote 2] the first Cambridge college. He left 200 pounds to the college in his will.

He died on 16 June 1286Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 244] at the manor of Dodington on the Isle of Ely. He was buried in Ely Cathedral on 24 June 1286. A brass in the church at Balsham supposedly depicts the bishop.

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33863 British History Online Bishops of Ely] accessed on 25 October 2007
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Further reading

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Persondata
NAME=Balsham, Hugh de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hugo de Balsham
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Ely
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=16 June 1286
PLACE OF DEATH=