a Cistercian monk
What was the position of Henry Murdac from 1134 to 1143?
Henry Murdac Henry Murdac ( died 1153 ) was abbot of Fountains Abbey and Archbishop of York in medieval England , Early life . Murdac was a native of Yorkshire . He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York , who secured his promotion in the cathedral chapter of York Minster , however Murdac resigned soon afterwards when Bernard of Clairvaux invited him to become a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux Abbey . He was a friend and companion there of the future Pope Eugene III . He was later appointed the first abbot of Vauclair Abbey in the diocese of Laon and in 1144 returned to Yorkshire to assume the abbacy at Fountains . Henry was a strict disciplinarian and a magnificent administrator , enforcing his rules by example , in living a life of great austerity and constantly wearing sackcloth next to his skin . Murdac was also at the forefront of opposition to the appointment of William FitzHerbert to the see of York , by King Stephen of England . William , who was the kings nephew , was accused by some of simony and unchaste living ; in a letter to Pope Innocent II , Bernard maintained that fitzHerbert was rotten from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head . FitzHerbert was first suspended by the pope in 1147 , then formally deposed at the Council of Rheims at the instigation of Pope Eugene III , like Murdac , a former monk of Clairvaux . Archbishop . Murdac was then installed as the new archbishop , being consecrated on 7 December 1147 by Eugene III . He was the first Cistercian bishop in England , as well as being the first bishop or archbishop elected since the Norman Conquest without the approval of the king . However , Yorks cathedral chapter refused to acknowledge his appointment , so he retired to Ripon . King Stephen also refused to recognise him , sequestering the stalls of York and imposing a fine on the town of Beverley for harbouring him . In retaliation , Murdac excommunicated Hugh de Puiset , Treasurer of York , and his other enemies and laid the city under interdict . Puiset , in return , excommunicated the Archbishop and ordered the services to be conducted as usual . In this he was supported by Eustace , son of Stephen . Murdac , in retaliation for Stephens refusal to recognise his election , supported King David I of Scotland in 1149 , when David invaded the north of England . David was ostensibly invading to put his nephew Henry Plantagenet on the English throne , but modern historians feel that David was also pursuing his own aims of strengthening his kingdom . Murdac probably took the step of aligning himself with the Scots because of Murdacs desire to establish Yorks independence from the primacy of the see of Canterbury . Murdac hoped that David would be able to install Murdac in York , where the archbishop had been refused entry . In 1150 Stephen finally recognised Henry Murdac as Archbishop of York , probably hoping that Henry would then intercede with Eugenius to secure the coronation of Eustace , but that did not happen . Murdac also continued to lack support in the city of York itself , and continued to reside at Ripon . Finally , in January 1151 , Henry was able to enter York . Later in 1151 the archbishop travelled to Rome to consult with the pope about Eustaces coronation , but was unable to secure permission from the pope . In 1153 Puiset was elected Bishop of Durham , which greatly offended Murdac chiefly because he , as metropolitan of the province , had not been consulted . He excommunicated the prior and Archdeacon of Durham , who came to York to implore mercy and absolution . The King and his son Eustace implored him to grant the rebels absolution , but he refused , until they came to Beverley , acknowledged their fault , and submitted to scourging at the entrance to the Minster when he did finally absolve them . Murdac spent five of his six years as Archbishop at Ripon . Despite everything , he retained his influence over Fountains and the three succeeding abbots , Maurice ( 1148 ) , Thorald ( 1148–1150 ) and Richard ( 1150–1170 ) , were suffragan abbots under him . Death and afterwards . Henry died at Beverley on 14 October 1153 . Following Henrys death , William FitzHerbert was reinstalled as archbishop and made his peace with the community at Fountains . Murdac was buried at York Minster . His nephew Hugh Murdac was a canon at York Minster and was elected as Archdeacon of Cleveland in 1201 but not confirmed in that office .