Æthelric (bishop of Dorchester)

Æthelric (or Brihtmær)[a] was a medieval Bishop of Dorchester, when the town was seat of the united dioceses of Lindsey and Dorchester.

Eadhericus
SeeBishop of Dorchester
Term ended8 December 1034
PredecessorEadnothus
SuccessorEadnothus
Orders
Consecration1016
Personal details
Died8 December 1034
DenominationChristian

Æthelric was consecrated in 1016 and died on 8 December 1034.[1]

When Æthelric was young, he was educated at Abingdon Abbey. A story about him claims that one day he and three other boys caused trouble by ringing the bell very hard. The bell cracked, and it was very expensive to replace. When the abbot learned what happened, he decided to pardon them because they were young aristocrats and when they were older, they were likely to pay far more than the value of this bell in gifts to the monastery. [2]

In another story, when Æthelric was bishop during the time of King Cnut, one day he was travelling with Cnut and stayed the night in the house of a rich Dane. The Dane got drunk and offered to sell an estate for 50 marks. Æthelric, perhaps wishing to clinch the deal before the man became sober, then quickly sent a messenger to Cnut to ask for help. The king was playing a game of chess, but he offered the money to Æthelric, who then finalized the purchase.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ Latin: Eadhericus

Citations

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  1. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 215
  2. ^ Studies in the Early History of Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset County Council, 1999
  3. ^ Studies in the Early History of Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset County Council, 1999

References

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  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
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Christian titles
Preceded by Bishop of Dorchester
1016–1034
Succeeded by



  NODES
Note 2