Antony Bek (also spelled Beck and Beke; c. 1245 – 3 March 1311) was a bishop of Durham and the Patriarch of Jerusalem (1306–1311).

Early life

Bek and his elder brother Thomas Bek were members of a family of knights. Their father was Walter Bek, who held lands at Eresby in Lincolnshire. Another brother was John Beke, 1st Baron Beke of Eresby, who held the family lands in Eresby. Walter had married Eve, the niece of Walter de Gray, Archbishop of York. Bek was born about 1245 and was Walter's third son. the heir of King Henry III of England. He was Archdeacon of Durham by 1275, as well as precentor of York and held prebends at Lichfield, London, and Wells. Bek accompanied Edward when the prince went on Crusade in 1270. When Edward returned from crusading, he appointed Bek to the office of Keeper of the wardrobe on 21 September 1274, but Bek held the office for only about a month, and was replaced in October with his brother Thomas Bek. Edward named Bek the constable of the Tower of London in 1275. Bek was also sent to Aragon to negotiate the marriage of Edward's daughter Eleanor to the heir of Aragon, Alfonso.

Bishop of Durham

Edward I secured Bek's election as bishop of Durham in 1283. During his consecration, Bek had the remains of Saint William of York moved to a new shrine in York Minster. Bek was sent to Scotland after the death of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1286, to act on Edward's behalf for Alexander's heir Margaret of Norway, who was bethrothed to Edward's son Prince Edward. However, Margaret died soon after this, and Edward was brought in to decide the succession of the Scottish throne. Bek was employed by King Edward in the negotiations and also served as a spokesman. In 1294 the king sent Bek, along with others, on a diplomatic errand to the German king Adolf of Nassau and the archbishop of Cologne.

thumb|left|The second phase of the Battle of Falkirk

Taking part in Edward's campaigns in Scotland, the bishop received the surrender of King John I of Scotland at Brechin in 1296, and led one division of the English army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. who named Bek Patriarch of Jerusalem on 26 February 1306. In September, shortly after the death of Edward I, Edward II restored Bek's lands and rights. Bek's title of patriarch made him the senior ecclesiastic in England, and it was probably due to that status that he was named the main investigator of the Templars in 1308. In 1309, he finally managed to visit the priory at Durham, and the new prior announced that he and the chapter would not institute any more legal proceedings against the bishop stemming from the dispute. His extravagance was legendary, and his retinue was large, and consisted of 140 knights. Bek was a wealthy man, and his personal estate at his death was valued at 6000 marks. Somerton Castle in Lincolnshire and elsewhere. He also built Durham Castle's Great Hall. Some efforts were made after the bishop's death to have him canonized, but nothing came of these efforts. Bek was known for his chastity and bravery also.

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Hunter Blair, C.H., Medieval Seals of the Bishops of Durham, published in Archaeologia, or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity, published by the Society of Antiquaries of London, Vol. 72, 1922, pp. 5–6, re: seal of Bishop Bek; physical seal held at National Archives, Kew, "Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, counter seal", ref: SC 13/F36 [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3683503]