16 Facts About Hugh Nonant

Hugh Nonant was a medieval Bishop of Coventry in England.

Hugh Nonant replaced his monastic cathedral chapter with secular clergy, and attempted to persuade his fellow bishops to do the same, but was unsuccessful.

When King Richard was captured and held for ransom, Hugh Nonant supported Prince John's efforts to seize power in England, but had to purchase Richard's favour when the king returned.

Hugh Nonant was a great-nephew of John, Bishop of Lisieux, who had been the chief deputy in Normandy of King Henry I of England, and he was a nephew of Arnulf of Lisieux, another bishop of Lisieux.

Hugh Nonant had a brother, Sylvester, who was treasurer of Lisieux.

Hugh Nonant was a canon in his uncle Arnulf's cathedral chapter before serving as an archdeacon of the diocese of Lisieux from 1167 until 1184.

Hugh Nonant served in the household of Thomas Becket while Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury, and went into exile with Becket, although he left Becket's service while the archbishop was in exile.

Hugh Nonant had been reconciled to King Henry II of England by 1170.

In 1184, Hugh Nonant was sent by the king to the papal curia to petition Pope Lucius III on behalf of Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Henry II's son-in-law.

Hugh Nonant purchased the offices of Sheriff of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire.

Hugh Nonant attempted to get all the bishops to prosecute a joint case at Rome to expel the monastic cathedral chapters, but gave up that idea after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Baldwin of Exeter declined to go along.

Hugh Nonant did receive papal sanction for the replacement of monks at Coventry.

Hugh Nonant joined with John in trying to wrest control of the castles of Tickhill and Nottingham from William Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely, who had been named justiciar and chancellor during Richard's absence.

Hugh Nonant supported John's side throughout the time that Richard was on Crusade and in captivity, and was tried with John after Richard's return to England in 1194.

Hugh Nonant was only restored to royal favour in 1195 after the payment of a fine of 5000 marks.

Hugh Nonant's brother was Robert Brito, who was captured by King Richard in 1194 and starved to death because Robert had earlier refused to be a hostage for the payment of Richard's ransom.