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Abstract
Bishop Fulbert of Chartres is a preeminent intellectual figure of the Middle Ages. As the director of the illustrious cathedral school of Chartres he influenced both the direction of medieval pedagogy and generations of prominent teachers, writers and their students. Fulbert is celebrated as a literary figure and as the author of an outline of lord-dependent obligations (Letter 51), a text that is ubiquitous in studies of feudalism and sourcebooks for the Middle Ages.
However, Fulbert's reputation as a benevolent scholar has resulted in a narrow focus on his direction of the school of Chartres and in construing his actions as apolitical. In addition, little is known of Fulbert's family, education, early career and episcopal election and none of the three previous biographical surveys have focused on Fulbert's political activity.
This thesis attempts to redress the scholarly lacunae of Fulbert's life and political involvement by discussing the possibilities for Fulbert's birthplace, family and early education and strongly suggesting that Fulbert was a monk. It also identifies Fulbert's lord-dependent relationships and determines how Fulbert defined his political activity according to the demands and interests of these relationships. Fulbert identified himself as a fidelis of King Robert and was closely associated with the king, particularly in matters of justice and episcopal elections. He also acted as a dependent of Count Odo II of Blois, Tours and Chartres and Duke William V of Aquitaine, two of the most powerful territorial princes of the eleventh century.
While Fulbert overtly specified that the interests of the episcopacy were synonymous with the royal agenda, he did not always act in ways consonant with royal wishes. Rather, he attempted to balance the duties he owed to King Robert, Count Odo and Duke William. Fulbert's political career was guided by the struggle to render his obligations to his lords while attempting to advance their competing agendas in a fashion that allowed Fulbert to retain the goodwill of all. Fulbert's relationships with his lords were also complicated by his desire to advance ecclesiastical and diocesan interests that were often in competition with royal, comital or ducal agendas.