Leofgar of Hereford

For the early 11th century bishop of Lichfield, see Leofgar.

Leofgar
Bishop of Hereford
Appointed	before March 1056
Term ended	16 June 1056
Predecessor	Æthelstan
Successor	Ealdred
Orders
Consecration	March 1056
Personal details
Died	(1056-06-16)16 June 1056
Denomination	Christian

Leofgar (or Leovegard; died 1056) was a medieval Bishop of Hereford.

Leofgar was consecrated in March 1056. ^[1] He had previously been the chaplain to Harold Godwineson,^{[ citation needed ]} and it was probably Harold who persuaded King Edward the Confessor to appoint him to the bishopric. The appointment was disapproved of by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , mainly for the warlike character of Leofgar. However, because of the Welsh raids, and the damage the diocese had taken in the previous year, it was felt that a more martial man was needed to help protect the area. ^[2] Significantly, while a bishop he retained his moustache, a symbol of a warrior. ^[3]

Leofgar was killed by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ^[4] on 16 June 1056 ^[1] at Glasbury-on-Wye during a battle with the Welsh. ^[2] Along with Leofgar, many English were killed, which set back the English efforts to pacify the Welsh frontier. ^{[5] [6]} After Leofgar's death, the diocese of Hereford was administered by Ealdred, who was Bishop of Worcester, until Walter of Lorraine was elected in 1060. ^[7]

Citations

1. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 217
2. Walker Harold pp. 80–81
3. Walker Harold p. 120
4. Walker Harold p. 68
5. Barlow Edward the Confessor pp. 207–208
6. Mason House of Godwine pp. 90–91
7. Mason House of Godwine pp. 96

References

• Barlow, Frank (1970). Edward the Confessor. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN   0-520-01671-8.
• 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.
• Mason, Emma (2004). House of Godwine: The History of Dynasty. London: Hambledon & London. ISBN   1-85285-389-1.
• Walker, Ian (2000). Harold the Last Anglo-Saxon King. Gloucestershire, UK: Wrens Park. ISBN   0-905778-46-4.

External links

• Leofgar 4 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England

Christian titles
Preceded by Æthelstan	Bishop of Hereford 1056	Succeeded by Ealdred