On This Day

Jocelin, abbot of Melrose, is elected bishop of Glasgow

Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a Scottish Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland.

Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a Scottish Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland. He was probably born in the 1130s, and in his teenage years became a monk of Melrose Abbey. He rose in the service of Abbot Waltheof, and by the time of the short abbacy of Waltheof's successor Abbot William, Jocelin had become prior. Then in 1170 Jocelin himself became abbot, a position he held for four years. Jocelin was responsible for promoting the cult of the emerging Saint Waltheof, and in this had the support of Enguerrand, Bishop of Glasgow.

His Glasgow connections and political profile were already well-established enough that in 1174 Jocelin succeeded Enguerrand as Glasgow's bishop.

Historical Significance

Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a Scottish Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland.

Events Before

  1. Battle of al-Babein: King Amalric I of Jerusalem fights a Zengid army to a draw over access to Egypt

    The Battle of al-Babein took place on March 18, 1167, during the third Crusader invasion of Egypt.

  2. Battle of Monte Porzio: Holy Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Da

    Battle of Monte Porzio: Holy Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel

  3. Giovanni di Struma is elected antipope

    An antipope (Latin: antipapa) is a person who claims to be Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in opposition to the officially elected pope.

  4. Pope Alexander III canonizes Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

    Thomas Becket ( ), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English cleric and statesman who served...

  5. Construction of the Tower of Pisa begins, and it takes two centuries to complete

    Construction of the Tower of Pisa begins, and it takes two centuries to complete

Events After

  1. At the Battle of Myriokephalon, the Byzantines fail to recover Anatolia from Turkish rule

    The Battle of Myriokephalon (also known as the Battle of Myriocephalum, Greek: Μάχη του Μυριοκέφαλου, Turkish: Miryokefalon Savaşı or Düzbel Muharebesi) was a battle between the Byzantine Empire and...

  2. Battle of Montgisard: Baldwin IV of Jerusalem defeats Saladin and a larger Ayyubid force

    Baldwin IV (1161–1185), known as the Leper King, was the king of Jerusalem from 1174 until his death in 1185. Baldwin ascended to the throne when he was thirteen despite having leprosy.

  3. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa is crowned King of Burgundy

    Frederick Barbarossa (December 1122 – 10 June 1190), also known as Frederick I (German: Friedrich; Italian: Federico), was the Holy Roman emperor from 1155 until his death in 1190.

  4. BC A solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom after the Trojan War

    BC A solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom after the Trojan War

  5. Five monks at Canterbury report something exploding on the moon shortly after sunset (only known observation) [1]

    Five monks at Canterbury report something exploding on the moon shortly after sunset (only known observation) [1]

More from the 1170s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 23, 1174?
Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a Scottish Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland. He was probably born in the 1130s, and in his teenage years became a monk of Melrose Abbey. He rose in the service of Abbot Waltheof, and by the time of the short abbacy of Waltheof's successor Abbot William, Jocelin had become prior.
Why is Jocelin, abbot of Melrose, is elected bishop of Glasgow significant?
Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a Scottish Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland.

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