Robert Bloet educated a number of noblemen, including illegitimate children of Henry I Robert Bloet was the patron of the medieval chronicler Henry of Huntingdon, and was an early patron of Gilbert of Sempringham, the founder of the Gilbertine monastic order.
25 Facts About Robert Bloet
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Robert Bloet was related in some manner to Hugh, the Bishop of Bayeux from 1015 to 1049, and Hugh's brother John, who was Bishop of Avranches from 1060 to 1067.
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Robert Bloet was a royal clerk in the household of King William I of England.
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Robert Bloet accompanied William I's son, William Rufus, when Rufus traveled to England to claim the throne after William I's death.
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Robert Bloet was appointed at the same time that Anselm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, during a severe illness when Rufus feared he was dying.
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Robert Bloet refused to profess obedience to Anselm, but when King William intervened on Anselm's side, Robert Bloet made the profession to Anselm.
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Robert Bloet was one of the chief administrative officers of the kingdom under William II, often associated with Ranulf Flambard, Urse d'Abetot, and Haimo the dapifer.
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Robert Bloet gave lands to the priory of Bermondsey, which became a Cluniac priory during Rufus' reign.
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Robert Bloet was one of the bishops in 1097 that attempted to persuade Anselm when the archbishop was in a dispute with Rufus over travelling to Rome to consult with the papacy.
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Robert Bloet continued to be an advisor to the king even after Rufus was succeeded by King Henry I, and was a supporter of Henry during the rebellion of 1102.
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Robert Bloet is only recorded as accompanying the king outside England once, in 1114.
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Robert Bloet served as a royal justice often, being named by Henry of Huntingdon as one of the justices who were not restricted to one or a few counties but who served throughout England.
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Robert Bloet was one of the councillors who urged Henry to appoint William of Corbeil to the archbishopric of Canterbury in 1123, although Bloet died before Corbeil was selected.
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Robert Bloet was opposed to the other candidates, as they were monks, and he wanted a non-monk appointed at Canterbury.
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Robert Bloet continued to be a benefactor to Albans throughout his episcopate.
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Robert Bloet doubled the number of canons in the cathedral chapter at Lincoln Cathedral during his episcopate.
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Robert Bloet embellished the newly built Lincoln Cathedral and gave the cathedral many gifts of objects and lands.
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Robert Bloet founded a hospital in Lincoln dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre.
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Robert Bloet allegedly told Huntingdon that the bishop had lost two lawsuits.
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Nor is there any lessening of the rate of Robert Bloet's witnessing to royal documents.
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Robert Bloet was a married bishop, and he appointed his son Simon as Dean of Lincoln.
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Robert Bloet had a sudden fit while out riding with King Henry and Roger of Salisbury, the Bishop of Salisbury, and collapsed in the king's arms before dying shortly thereafter without absolution, which combined with his style of living led many contemporaries to conclude he was condemned to Hell.
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Robert Bloet's entrails were buried at Eynsham, but the rest of his body was buried in Lincoln Cathedral near the southern entrance in front of St Mary's altar.
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Besides educating laymen, Robert Bloet educated his own household clergy, including sending some of them to study under Ivo, Bishop of Chartres.
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Robert Bloet was known for his ostentatious manner of living, and served personally in war when needed.