Death of Lanfranc of Canterbury

1089

The Lombard-born archbishop who had reorganized the English church under the Conqueror died at Canterbury after nineteen years in office. His death left the primatial see empty for four years while William Rufus collected its revenues for himself. The eventual appointment of Anselm would reignite the investiture quarrel, as the Italian philosopher proved far less willing than Lanfranc to accommodate royal demands on the Church.