Hugh de Puiset

Hugh de Puiset[a] (c. 1125 – 3 March 1195) was a medieval Bishop of Durham and Chief Justiciar of England under King Richard I.

He was the nephew of King Stephen of England and Henry of Blois, who both assisted Hugh's ecclesiastical career.

Hugh was not involved in the controversy between King Henry II and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.

After the accession of Henry's second son, Richard, as king, Hugh bought the office of Sheriff of Northumberland as well as the earldom of Northumbria.

Agnes' parents were Stephen, Count of Blois, and Adela, a daughter of King William the Conqueror.

[1] While treasurer he was a member of the party at York that wanted to elect Hilary as archbishop after William FitzHerbert's deposition in 1147.

The successful candidate was Henry Murdac, the Abbot of Fountains, who was supported by the bishops of Durham and Carlisle, William of St Barbara and Æthelwold.

[8][9] Because of Murdac's opposition and refusal to confirm the election, Hugh obtained consecration only by making a personal visit to Rome, where the pope was able to overrule the Archbishop of York.

[6] King Stephen granted to Puiset as bishop of Durham the mineral rights in Weardale, which included lead mines.

[11] Hugh may not have attended the coronation of King Henry II of England and his queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.

[16] He also built a castle at Norham, designed to help defend the north of England against raids from Scotland.

Lastly, the bishop's nephew Hugh IV de Puiset, who was Count of Bar-sur-Seine in France, brought an armed force to Hartlepool, supposedly to help defend Hugh, but King Henry feared that it was an attempt to aid the rebellion of the Young King.

[1] After the revolt had been put down, King Henry II ordered Hugh's castle of Northallerton to be destroyed.

[19] In ecclesiastical affairs, Hugh attended the 1163 Council of Tours, which was held by Pope Alexander III.

The pope ordered Puiset to compel the king to obey, but in 1183 the controversy was solved by a compromise.

[1] When King Richard I began his reign in 1189, Hugh bought the offices of Earl of Northumbria and Sheriff of Northumberland.

[32] Hugh also fought a long-running disagreement with his own cathedral chapter over the right to oversee the monks, a conflict that lasted about 40 years.

[1] Hugh died on 3 March 1195,[43] having ruled his diocese for an exceptionally long time, forty-two years.