The Register Of Ade De Orleton Bishop Of Hereford 1317-1327

The Register of Adam de Orleton, Bishop of Hereford (1317-1327): Your Gateway to Medieval England & the Court of a Fallen King

Please Note the register is in Latin

Step back into the heart of the 14th century—a world of political intrigue, royal rebellion, and the daily lives of your medieval ancestors.

For the dedicated genealogist and local historian, few documents are as revealing as a bishop's register. The Register of Adam de Orleton is not just a collection of names; it is a primary source chronicle from one of the most turbulent and dramatic decades in English history. Covering the pivotal years of 1317 to 1327, this register offers an unparalleled window into the Diocese of Hereford during the final, catastrophic reign of King Edward II.

This meticulously preserved record is your direct link to the past, allowing you to move beyond simple names and dates and understand the world your ancestors inhabited.

What You Will Discover Within These Pages:

Clerical Appointments & Institutions: Find the names of rectors, vicars, and parish priests appointed to churches across Herefordshire and beyond. Discover the patron who presented them—often a local lord or a powerful nobleman, providing a direct link to the ruling class.

Marriage Licenses & Dispensations: Uncover records of couples seeking permission to marry, especially in cases of consanguinity (being related) or other impediments. These records can reveal family connections and social networks that are otherwise lost to time.

Wills and Testaments of the Clergy: Locate the wills of priests, deans, and other church officials. These documents are genealogical goldmines, often naming family members, friends, and bequests of personal property.

Visitation Records & Court Cases: Read about the Bishop's inspections of his parishes. These entries can reveal disputes over tithes, moral transgressions, and maintenance of church property, painting a vivid picture of local community life.

Land & Property Transactions: Trace the management of diocesan lands, which often mention local tenants, landowners, and boundary markers—crucial for placing your family firmly in the landscape.

The Man Behind the Register: A Kingmaker in a Time of Revolution

This is not the register of a quiet, scholarly bishop. Adam de Orleton was one of the most formidable and controversial figures of his age. A brilliant administrator and a ruthless politician, he was a central figure in the baronial opposition to King Edward II and his infamous favourites, the Despensers.

His signature is on the documents that changed the course of English history. Orleton was one of the key architects of the rebellion that led to Edward II's capture and forced abdication in 1327. Owning this register is like holding a piece of the machinery that toppled a monarchy.

Famous People Associated with This Register:
While the register primarily documents the clergy and laity of Hereford, its author was at the very epicentre of national power. Your ancestors lived through these events, and their lives were shaped by them.

King Edward II (reigned 1307-1327): The deposed king whose disastrous reign and relationships ignited the civil war in which Orleton was a leading player. The political climate of these years is inseparable from the Bishop's actions.

Queen Isabella of France: The "She-Wolf of France," who invaded England with her lover, Roger Mortimer, to overthrow her husband, Edward II. Bishop Orleton was a crucial ally to her cause.

Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March: Isabella's powerful partner and the de facto ruler of England during the young Edward III's minority. He and Orleton worked hand-in-hand to control the kingdom.

When you search these records, you are walking in the footsteps of the people who decided the fate of kings. The local rector who was instituted by Orleton may have heard whispers of the rebellion; the farmer who paid his tithes may have seen royal armies march through his fields.