Richard FitzRalph

Richard FitzRalph (also Fitz Ralph; c. 1300 – 16 December 1360) was a scholastic philosopher, theologian, and Norman Irish Archbishop of Armagh during the 14th century. His thought exerted a significant influence on John Wycliffe's.^[1]

Life

FitzRalph was born into a well-off burgess family of Anglo-Norman/Hiberno-Norman descent in Dundalk, Ireland. He is noted as an ex-fellow and teacher of Balliol College, at the University of Oxford in 1325 (which is the earliest known record of him).^[2] By 1331, he was a Regent master in Theology, and soon after was made Vice-Chancellor of the university; this was an almost unparalleled achievement for someone still in his early thirties, let alone an Irishman (although Prince, in his "Worthies of Devon" makes the case for him being a Devonian).^[3]

As Vice-Chancellor, FitzRalph was faced with the crisis caused by the famous secession of masters and students to found a university at Stamford in Lincolnshire, and it is thought that this issue may have caused his first visit to the Papal Court at Avignon in 1334. He returned to England the following year having been appointed Dean of Lichfield — "notwithstanding that he has canonries and prebends of Crediton and Bosham, and has had provision made for him of the Chancellorship of Lincoln and the canonries and prebends of Armagh and Exeter, all of which he is to resign". In 1337 he was again compelled to visit Avignon, where he remained until 1344. On 31 July 1346, he was consecrated Archbishop of Armagh. In both of these positions, he was revered as a thoughtful and competent administrator.

From 1344, FitzRalph began to keep an account in diary form of his sermons. The shorter, less consequential ones were summarised, while the longer, more learned theological sermons were written in full. This was especially true for those he preached at Avignon. Both forms were written in Latin, and show his love of learning, shared by friends such as Richard of Bury. He is also believed to have sent many of his priests to study at Oxford to further their learning. His writings include his thoughts on infinity, predestination and free will. Like his fellow Irishmen Henry Crumpe and Dr. John Whitehead he was involved in a controversy with the Franciscan friars. He also clashed with the Archbishop of Dublin, John de St Paul, as they continued the century-old controversy over which of them had the right to claim the Primacy of Ireland.

The texts demonstrate that FitzRalph was pre-occupied with social problems in Ireland – twenty-nine sermons were given in Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin and various places in Meath to churchmen (whom he criticised for their laxity of vocation), merchants (whom he attacked for wasteful extravagances and underhanded trading practises) and the general population, among whom he was very popular as a preacher. At a time of often hostile racial relations between the colonists and natives, he took an honourable stand in denouncing discrimination against the Gaelic Irish. At times severe, this was balanced by his very fair and serious approach as pastor of his flock, be they English, Anglo-Irish, or Gaelic.

He undertook a third visit to Avignon from 1349 to 1351, where he is believed to have participated in the negotiations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Pope Clement VI. His report on the Black Death is the first firm evidence of its arrival in Ireland. From his return to Ireland in 1351 he became involved in what eventually became a very personal and bitter attack on various orders of mendicant friars. He wished to have their privileges withdrawn in regard to the act of confession, preaching, and other acts as they were undermining his secular clergy. As a result, he undertook a fourth visit to Avignon in 1357 to discuss the matter with Pope Innocent VI. He died there on 16 December 1360. In 1370, his remains were interred at St Nicholas's Church, Dundalk, where his memory was venerated for several centuries and miracles were reported in connection to him.

It is possible that FitzRalph was Chancellor of Oxford University in 1360.^[4]

Writings

Lectura on the Sentences
Summa de Quaestionibus Armenorum
Commentary on the Physics (lost)

References

^ Burns, J. H. (May 1988). The Cambridge History of Medieval Political Thought C.350-c.1450. Cambridge University Press. pp. 644–649. ISBN 9781139055390.
^ "The Sorcery Trial of Alice kyteler by Bernadette Williams". 24 January 2013.
^ Prince, John (1810). Danmonii orientales illustres or The Worthies of Devon (new ed.). Rees and Curtis. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
^ Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.

Sources

"Latin Learning and Literature in Ireland, 1169–1500", A.B. Scott, in "A New History of Ireland", volume one, 2005.
Biography, New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia.

External links

Dunne, Michael. "Richard FitzRalph". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The FitzRalph Society working towards furthering the study of and improving the public awareness of Richard of Dundalk.
Introduction to De Pauperie Salvatoris Books I-VII, 14th Century Oxford Theology Online
Biography in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Biography in A Compendium of Irish Biography (1878)
Speaking Ill of the Dead — a less than flattering overview of Fitzralph's career by the lexicographer Professor Terence Dolan (RTÉ MP3 audio of a program broadcast in September 2006)

Academic offices
Preceded by Richard Kamshale	Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1333–1336	Succeeded by John de Ayllesbury
Preceded by John de Hotham	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1360	Succeeded by Nicholas de Aston
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by David Mág Oireachtaigh	Archbishop of Armagh 1346–1360	Succeeded by Milo Sweetman

[burns-1] Burns, J. H. (May 1988). The Cambridge History of Medieval Political Thought C.350-c.1450. Cambridge University Press. pp. 644–649. ISBN 9781139055390.

[2] "The Sorcery Trial of Alice kyteler by Bernadette Williams". 24 January 2013.

[3] Prince, John (1810). Danmonii orientales illustres or The Worthies of Devon (new ed.). Rees and Curtis. Retrieved 11 July 2012.

[hibbert-4] Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford
13th century	1230 Elyas de Daneis 1270 Robert Steeton 1288 John Heigham
14th century	1304 John de Oseworhd 1311 Walter Gifford 1325 Richard Kamshale 1333 Richard FitzRalph 1336 John de Ayllesbury 1337 John de Reigham 1347 Hugh de Willoughby 1348 William de Hawkesworth 1367 John de Codeford 1368 John de Codeford 1377 Robert Aylesham 1382 Fr Peter Stokes 1386 Henry Nafford or Yafford 1389 John Lyndon 1391 John Ashwardby 1394 Richard Ullerston 1396 Nicholas Faux 1397 William Farendon or Faringdon 1399 John Snappe and others
15th century	1401 William Farendon 1404 Griffin Kirkadam 1405 William Farendon 1406 John Whytehede 1407 John Orum 1422 John Daventry 1426 Richard Roderham 1430 Thomas Eglesfield 1431 Richard Roderham 1433 John Burbach or Hurbach 1434 Thomas Gascoigne, Christopher Knolles, John Burbach 1435 John Burbach, Thomas Bonyngworth 1436 John Burbach, Thomas Greneley 1437 John Gorsuch, Thomas Greneley 1438 John Gorsuch, William Hawtrine 1439 John Gorsuch, John Burbach, Thomas Southam, Thomas Gascoigne 1440 John Gorsuch 1441 John Gorsuch, Robert Thwaits, William Babington 1442 William Grey, William Babington, John Gorsuch, William Westkarre 1443 William Dowson, William Westkarre 1444 William Dowson, Richard Hall, William Westkarre 1445 William Dowson, John Selot 1446 William Westkarre, John Moreton, William Dowson 1447 John Burneby, William Dowson 1448 John Burneby 1449 John Willey, John Burneby, William Dowson 1450 Richard Ringstede, John Beke, Roger Bulkeley, John Van 1451 John Beke, John Van 1452 John Beke, Thomas Tweyn or Yweyn alias Chalke, Thomas Saunders 1453 Luke Lacock, Robert Thwaits, Thomas Saunders 1454 Thomas Tweyn, Thomas Saunders 1455 Thomas Twynge alias Bonifaunt 1456 Thomas Saunders 1457 Thomas Chippenham 1458 Walter Wynhale, Thomas Twynge 1459 John Danvers, Thomas Jaune or Jane 1460 Thomas Tweyn 1461 William Ive, Roger Bulkeley 1462 William Ive 1463 John Watts, Thomas Chaundler, David Husband, John Mulcaster 1464 Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Chaundler, Roger Bulkeley, John Caldbeck, Thomas Person 1465 Thomas Smith, Robert Ixworth, John Caldbeck, Thomas Chaundler 1466 Thomas Chaundler, John Caldbeck, Thomas Stevyn, Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Hill 1467 Thomas Chaundler, Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Walton 1468 Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Jaune 1469 Robert Tulley, Thomas Jaune 1470 Thomas Stevyn 1480 John Lane, William Sutton 1481 Richard Fitzjames, William Sutton 1482 Robert Wrangwais, William Sutton 1484 Richard Mayew, Thomas Pawnton 1485 Richard Mayew 1486 John Taylor 1487 Richard Estmond 1488 John Coldale 1489 John Coldale 1490 John Coldale 1491 Richard Fitzjames, John Coldale 1492 John Coldale 1493 Robert Smith 1497 William Atwater 1498 Thomas Harpur 1499 David Hays, William Atwater, Thomas Chaundeler
16th century	1500 William Atwater 1501 Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders alias Shakspeere 1502 William Atwater, Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders 1503 John Thornden or Thornton, John Kynton, Simon Grene alias Fotherby 1504 John Kynton, Robert Tehy or Thay 1505 Simon Grene, John Roper, John Adams 1506 John Thornden, William Fauntleroy 1507 John Thornden or Thornton, John Avery, John Kynton 1508 William Fauntleroy, John Thornden 1509 William Fauntleroy 1510 John Thornden, John Mychell 1511 William Fauntleroy, Thomas Drax, John Roper, John Cockys, Edmund Wylsford 1512 Edmund Wylsford, William Fauntleroy, John Kynton 1513 William Fauntleroy, John Kynton, John Thornden 1514 John Thornden, Lawrence Stubbs, Edmund Wylsford, Hugh Whytehead 1515 Edmund Wylsford 1516 Lawrence Stubbs 1517 Richard Duck or Doke 1518 Richard Duck or Doke 1519 Richard Barnack, Richard Duck or Doke 1520 William Broke or Brook, Richard Benger 1521 Richard Benger 1522 Richard Benger 1523 Thomas Musgrave 1527 Martin Lyndsey, John Cottisford 1528 John Cottisford 1531 Henry White 1532 John Cottisford, William Tresham 1547 Walter Wright 1550 William Tresham 1551 Owen Oglethorpe 1552 James Brookes or Brooks, Richard Marshall 1553 Richard Marshall 1554 John Warner 1555 Richard Smyth 1556 William Tresham, Thomas Raynolds 1557 Thomas Raynolds, Thomas Whyte 1558 William Tresham 1559 John Warner 1560 Francis Babbington 1561 Francis Babbington 1562 Thomas Whyte 1564 John Kennall 1567 Thomas Cowper 1570 Thomas Cowper 1571 Lawrence Humphrey 1576 Herbert Westfaling 1577 William Cole 1578 Martin Culpepper 1579 Tobias Matthew 1580 Arthur Yeldard 1581 William James 1582 Robert Hovenden 1583 Thomas Thornton 1584 John Underhill 1585 Edmund Lilly 1586 Daniel Bernard 1587 Francis Wyllis 1588 Martin Heton 1589 Nicholas Bond 1590 William James 1592 Nicholas Bond 1593 Edmund Lilly 1596 Thomas Ravys 1598 Thomas Singleton 1599 Thomas Thornton
17th century	1600 George Abbot 1601 George Ryves 1602 John Howson 1603 George Abbot 1604 John Williams 1605 George Abbot 1606 Henry Airay 1607 John King 1611 Thomas Singleton 1614 William Goodwyn 1616 Arthur Lake 1617 William Goodwyn 1619 John Prideaux 1621 William Piers 1624 John Prideaux 1626 William Juxon 1628 Accepted Frewen 1630 William Smyth 1632 Brian Duppa 1634 Robert Pincke 1636 Richard Baylie 1638 Accepted Frewen 1640 Christopher Potter 1641 John Prideaux 1642 John Prideaux in absentia (duties performed by Robert Pincke and then John Tolson as Pro-Vice-Chancellors) 1643 John Tolson, Robert Pincke 1645 Samuel Fell 1648 Edward Reynolds 1650 Daniel Greenwood 1652 John Owen 1657 John Conant 1660 Paul Hood 1661 Richard Baylie 1662 Walter Blandford 1664 Robert Say 1666 John Fell 1669 Peter Mews 1673 Ralph Bathurst 1676 Henry Clerk 1677 John Nicholas 1679 Timothy Halton 1682 John Lloyd 1685 Timothy Halton 1686 John Venn 1687 Gilbert Ironside 1689 Jonathan Edwards 1692 Henry Aldrich 1695 Fitzherbert Adams 1697 John Meare 1698 William Paynter
18th century	1700 Roger Mander 1702 William Delaune 1706 William Lancaster 1710 Thomas Brathwait 1712 Bernard Gardiner 1715 John Baron 1718 Robert Shippen 1723 John Mather 1728 Edward Butler 1732 William Holmes 1735 Stephen Niblett 1738 Theophilus Leigh 1741 Walter Hodges 1744 Euseby Isham 1747 John Purnell 1750 John Browne 1753 George Huddesford 1756 Thomas Randolph 1759 Joseph Browne 1765 David Durell 1768 Nathan Wetherell 1772 Thomas Fothergill 1776 George Horne 1780 Samuel Dennis 1784 Joseph Chapman 1788 John Cooke 1792 John Wills 1796 Scrope Berdmore 1797 Edmund Isham 1798 Michael Marlow
19th century	1802 Whittington Landon 1806 Henry Richards 1807 John Parsons 1810 John Cole 1814 Thomas Lee 1818 Frodsham Hodson 1820 George William Hall 1824 Richard Jenkyns 1828 John Collier Jones 1832 George Rowley 1836 Ashhurst Turner Gilbert 1840 Philip Wynter 1844 Benjamin Parsons Symons 1848 Frederick Charles Plumptre 1852 Richard Lynch Cotton 1856 David Williams 1858 Francis Jeune 1862 John Prideaux Lightfoot 1866 Frances Knyvett Leighton 1870 Henry George Liddell 1874 James Edwards Sewell 1878 Evan Evans 1882 Benjamin Jowett 1886 James Bellamy 1890 Henry Boyd 1894 John Richard Magrath 1898 Sir William Reynell Anson 1899 Thomas Fowler
20th century	1901 David Binning Monro 1904 William Walter Merry 1906 Herbert Warren 1910 Charles Buller Heberden 1913 Thomas Banks Strong 1917 Herbert Edward Douglas Blakiston 1920 Lewis Richard Farnell 1923 Joseph Wells 1926 Francis William Pember 1929 Frederick Homes Dudden 1932 Francis John Lys 1935 Alexander Dunlop Lindsay 1938 George Stuart Gordon 1941 Sir William David Ross 1944 Sir Richard Winn Livingstone 1947 William Teulon Swan Stallybrass 1948 The Very Reverend John Lowe 1951 Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra 1954 Alic Halford Smith 1957 John Cecil Masterman 1958 Thomas Sherrer Ross Boase 1960 Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington 1962 Walter Fraser Oakeshott 1964 Kenneth Clinton Wheare 1966 John Norman Davidson Kelly 1966 Kenneth Turpin 1969 Alan Bullock, Lord Bullock of Leafield 1973 Sir John Habakkuk 1977 Sir Rex Richards 1981 Sir Geoffrey Warnock 1985 Lord Neill of Bladen 1989 Sir Richard Southwood 1993 Sir Peter North 1997 Sir Colin Lucas
21st century	2004 John Hood 2009 Andrew D. Hamilton 2016 Louise Richardson 2023 Irene Tracey

v t e Deans of Lichfield
Medieval	Stephen Seagrave Roger de Convenis John Garssia Richard FitzRalph John of Thoresby Simon de Brisele John Bokyngham William de Manton Laurence de Ibstock Anthony Rous Francis de Teobaldeschi William Pakington Thomas de Stretton Robert Wolveden John Verney Thomas Heywood
Early modern	John Yotton Ralph Colyngwood James Denton Richard Sampson Henry Williams John Ramridge Laurence Nowell George Boleyn James Montague William Tooker Walter Curle Augustine Lindsell John Warner Samuel Fell Griffin Higgs William Paul Thomas Wood Matthew Smallwood Lancelot Addison William Binckes Jonathan Kimberley William Walmesley Nicholas Penny John Addenbrooke Baptist Proby
Late modern	John Woodhouse Henry Howard Weldon Champneys Edward Bickersteth Herbert Mortimer Luckock Henry Savage Frederic Iremonger William MacPherson George Holderness John Lang Tom Wright Michael Yorke Adrian Dorber Pete Wilcox (Acting) Jan McFarlane

v t e Archbishops of Armagh
Primate of All Ireland · Catholic Church in Ireland · Archdiocese of Armagh
5th–8th centuries	Patrick Sechnall mac Restituit Sen-Phátraic Benén mac Sescnén Iarlaithe mac Treno Cormac Dubthach the First Ailill the First Ailill the Second Dubthach the Second Fiachra mac Colmain Fedelmid Find Carláen Eochu macDiarmaid Senach Mac Laisre Tómméne Ségéne Fland Feblae mac Scandláin Suibne mac Crundmaíl Congus
Abbots 8th–12th centuries	Célé Petair Fer dá Chrích mac Suibni Cú Dínaisc mac Conasaig Dub dá Leithe I mac Sínaig Fóendelach mac Móenaig Airechtach ua Fáeláin Fóendelach mac Móenaig (second) Gormgal mac Dindataig Condmach mac Duib dá Leithe Torbach mac Gormáin Toicthech Ua Tigernaig Nuadu of Loch Uama Flandgus mac Loingsig Artrí mac Conchobair Suibne mac Forandáin Eógan Mainistrech mac Ainbthig Forindán mac Murgile Diarmait ua Tigernáin Cathassach Féthgno mac Nechtain Máel Cobo mac Crundmaíl Ainmere ua Fáeláin Máel Cobo mac Crundmaíl (second) Cathassach mac Robartaig Máel Brigte mac Tornáin Ioseph mac Fathaig Máel Pátraic mac Máel Tuile Cathassach mac Doilgén Muiredach mac Fergussa Dub dá Leithe II mac Cellaig Muirecén mac Ciaracáin Máel Muire mac Eochada Amalgaid mac Máel Muire Dub dá Leithe III Máel Muire Cummascach Ua hErodáin Máel Ísu mac Amalgada Domnall mac Amalgada Cellach of Armagh Muirchertach mac Domnall Niall mac Áeda meic Máel Ísu
Bishops 8th–12th centuries	Affiath Nuadu of Loch Uama Artrí mac Conchobair Forindán mac Murgile Máel Pátraic mac Findchon Féthgno mac Nechtain Cathassach mac Robartaig Mochtae daltae Féthgno Máel Aithgin Cellach mac Sóergussa Máel Ciaráin mac Eochocáin Ioseph mac Fathaig Máel Pátraic mac Máel Tuile Cathassach mac Doilgén Cathassach mac Murchadáin Máel Muire mac Scandláinn Airmedach mac Coscraig Cenn Fáelad Sabaill Máel Tuile Áed Ua Forréid Máel Pátraic mac Airmedaig Cáenchomrac Ua Baigill Máel Coluim Ua Broicháin Máel Brigte Ua Broicháin Amlaim Ua Muirethaig
Archbishops 12th–16th centuries	Cellach of Armagh Malachy Gilla Meic Liac mac Diarmata Cornelius of Armagh Gilla in Choimded Ua Caráin Tommaltach Ua Conchobair Mael Ísu Ua Cerbaill Tommaltach Ua Conchobair (second) Echdonn Mac Gilla Uidir Luke Netterville Donatus Ó Fidabra Robert Archer Albert Suerbeer Reginald of Bologna Abraham Ó Conalláin Máel Patraic Ua Scannail Nicol Mac Máel Ísu Michael MacLochlainn Dionysius John Taaffe Walter Jorz Roland Jorz Stephen Seagrave David Mág Oireachtaigh Richard FitzRalph Milo Sweetman Thomas Ó Calmáin John Colton Nicholas Fleming Richard Talbot John Swayne John Prene John Mey John Bole John Foxalls Edmund Connesburgh Ottaviano Spinelli de Palatio John Kite George Cromer Robert Wauchope George Dowdall
Archbishops 16th–21st centuries	Donagh O'Tighe Richard Creagh Edmund MacGauran Peter Lombard Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil Hugh O'Reilly Edmund O'Reilly Oliver Plunkett Dominic Maguire Hugh MacMahon Bernard MacMahon Ross MacMahon Michael O'Reilly Anthony Blake Richard O'Reilly Patrick Curtis Thomas Kelly William Crolly Paul Cullen Joseph Dixon Michael Kieran Daniel McGettigan Michael Logue Patrick O'Donnell Joseph MacRory John D'Alton William Conway Tomás Ó Fiaich Cahal Daly Seán Brady Eamon Martin
Italics indicate a person who was elected but not consecrated.

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat
National	Germany United States France BnF data Australia Spain Portugal Netherlands Norway Vatican Israel Catalonia
People	Ireland Deutsche Biographie DDB
Other	IdRef SNAC