Adam Orleton facts for kids

Adam Orleton (died 1345) was an English churchman and royal administrator.

Life

Orleton was born into a Herefordshire family, probably in Hereford, not Orleton. Many of his family had been Chief Bailiffs of the city. The lord of the manor was Roger Mortimer, to whose interests Orleton was loyal. His nephews were John Trilleck, Bishop of Hereford and Thomas Trilleck, Bishop of Rochester.

From the accession of Edward II Orleton was employed as a diplomat to the papal court, at Avignon from 1309, of Clement V and John XXII. A favourite of the latter, Orleton was nominated bishop of Hereford by the pope on 15 May 1317, and consecrated on 22 May 1317, despite the protests of the king. During his episcopate the great central tower at Hereford, a wonder of its day, was built, but there is no reason to think him responsible for a matter under the jurisdiction of the dean and chapter. Despite his increasing political involvement with Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer against Edward II, playing a significant role in the events of 1326, Orleton was an effective bishop in Hereford diocese, and reformed the scandalous Wigmore Abbey and also the priory at Abergavenny and St. Guthlac's priory in Hereford.

Orleton was translated to be bishop of Worcester on 25 September 1327, and lastly to be bishop of Winchester on 1 December 1333.

In 1327 Orleton briefly held the office of Lord High Treasurer, from January to March.

Orleton died on 18 July 1345.

In literature

In Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II, Orleton is given a role in Edward's death. This traditional story is not given credence by contemporary historians.

Orleton is a supporting character in Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings), a series of French historical novels by Maurice Druon. He was portrayed by Jean Lanier [fr] in the 1972 French miniseries adaptation of the series, and by Serge Maillat in the 2005 adaptation.