Hygeberht

Higbert (also: Hygberht or Hygeberht; † 803) was bishop ( 779-787 ) and Archbishop ( 787-799 ) of Lichfield during the reign of King Offa of Mercia.

In order, then, to strengthen its position against the Kingdom of Kent and the archbishop of Canterbury Jaenbert, Offa caused during the Council of Chelsea, the creation of an archbishopric in the middle of his empire, the Diocese of Lichfield. Higbert, the then Bishop of Lichfield, received in the year 788 the pallium from Pope Hadrian I. After the death of Jaenbert 792, he was the first prelate of England. He dedicated Jaenberts successor Æthelhard also.

Offa's successor Cenwulf wanted to dissolve both dioceses and replace it with one in London, but to do it did not come. However recanted Pope Leo III. 802, the decision of his predecessor, as it the reason for the creation of the Archdiocese, the disunity of the Church of England, seemed inaccurate. Higbert survived the dispute concerning his diocese, by resigning from his position and thus forestalled the resolution of the diocese. He died in the year 803 as abbot and head of the clergy in Mercia.

Credentials

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