Leofgar of Hereford

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,^[2] 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.^[3] Significantly, while a bishop he retained his moustache, a symbol of a warrior.^[4]

Leofgar was killed by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn^[5] on 16 June 1056^[1] at Glasbury-on-Wye during a battle with the Welsh.^[3] Along with Leofgar, many English were killed, which set back the English efforts to pacify the Welsh frontier.^[6]^[7] 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.^[8]

Citations

^ a b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 217
^ <needs citation>
^ a b Walker Harold pp. 80–81
^ Walker Harold p. 120
^ Walker Harold p. 68
^ Barlow Edward the Confessor pp. 207–208
^ Mason House of Godwine pp. 90–91
^ 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