Arnulf of Lisieux

Who was Arnulf of Lisieux?

Arnulf of Lisieux was a medieval French bishop who figured prominently as a conservative figure during the Renaissance of the 12th century, built the Cathedral of Lisieux, which introduced Gothic architecture to Normandy, and implemented the reforms of Bernard of Clairvaux.

He was born in Normandy, the second son of Hardouin de Neuville, and having been educated there by his elder brother, Jean, Bishop of Sées, studied canon law at Rome. He made his mark writing in defence of Pope Innocent II a violent letter against Gerard, bishop of Angoulême, a partisan of the Antipope Anacletus II. He went to England to serve in the court of Stephen during The Anarchy.

In 1141 he was raised to the See of Lisieux. He accompanied Louis VII on his crusade, was faithful to Pope Alexander III at the Synod of Tours during the schism, and encouraged his brother bishops to defend the cause of ecclesiastical liberty against Henry II of England.

He was an early partisan of Henry in his struggles as Duke of Normandy to become king of England and took the king's side in the conflict between Henry and Thomas Becket, but in attempting to mediate between king and archbishop he alienated both sides; after Becket's murder Arnulf undertook the royal defence before the pope. In 1181 or perhaps a little earlier, he lost the good will of the king, and for a while that of Pope Lucius III. He then resigned his see, claiming age and feebleness, and retired to the Abbey of St. Victor, Paris, where he died. His writings include a collection of letters, collated by himself, which survive in 19 manuscripts, and some poetry.