William of Roskilde (Danish: Vilhelm, German: Wilhelm, Latin: Wilhelmus; died 8 May or 10 May c. 1074)[1] was a Danish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Roskilde in Denmark from about 1060.
William | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
| Bishop | |
| Died | 10 May 1074 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 2 September |
Origin
Nothing is known about William's early life. A contemporary historian, Adam von Bremen, recounts him as a cleric serving Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen before becoming bishop of Roskilde, which suggests a German descent.[2] While the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus written a century later frames him as Anglo-Saxon who previously served Cnut the Great in England as his priest and clerk.[3]
Bishop of Roskilde
The sources around William's tenure as bishop are scarce. He is attributed with initiating the construction of Roskilde Cathedral that his successor completed in around 1080.[4]
According to Saxo Grammaticus, William had a close relationship with King Sweyn II that allowed him to secure valuable land and power for his bishopric. He also retells an appropriated fictional story based on a legend with Saint Ambrose and Theodosius I originally written by Paulinus the Deacon about murder and penitence to explain their relationship development.[5]
Death
William's death is commonly recorded on either 8 May or 10 May and around year 1074[2] because evidence suggest that he died before King Sweyn II[a] as the king selected his successor after he had passed.[1] William's remains were buried in Roskilde Cathedral.[6]
Sainthood
William of Roskilde's date of canonization is unknown,[b] but his memorial is observed by the Roman Catholic Church on September 2.[7][8][c]
See also
Notes
Citations
References
- Saxo Grammaticus (2015). "Book eleven". In Friis-Jensen, Karsten (ed.). Oxford Medieval Texts: Saxo Grammaticus: Gesta Danorum: The History of the Danes, Vol. 2 (in English and Latin). Translated by Fischer, Peter. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 787–863. ISBN 9780198705765.
- Jones, Terry (16 August 2009). "Vilhelm".
- Monks at St. Augustine's Abbey (1921). The Book of saints; a dictionary of persons canonized or beatified by the Catholic Church (1 ed.). London: A. & C. Black, ltd. p. 275.
- Olrik, Hans (1904). "Vilhelm". In Bricka, Carl Frederik (ed.). Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Vol. 18. Gyldendalske Boghandel. pp. 589–590. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
