Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robert of ‘Salesby’
ROBERT of ‘Salesby’ (fl. 1150?), chancellor of Sicily, is described by John of Hexham as ‘oriundus in Anglia, scilicet in Salesbia.’ Mr. Raine renders this by Selby, but in Twysden's ‘Scriptores Decem’ and in the Rolls Series (ap. Sym. Dunelm. ii. 318) ‘Salesberia’ is read. If Robert was of Salisbury, and not of Selby, it is possible that he may have been connected with the great English chancellor and justiciar, Roger of Salisbury. Robert was one of many Englishmen who found employment under the Norman kings of Sicily in the twelfth century. Romuald of Salerno speaks of Robert, the chancellor of King Roger, directing the defence of Campania against the Pisans and the emperor in 1132–3 (Muratori, vii. 188 D); but Roger's chancellor at this time was Guarinus (Grævius, iii. 847, and Regiæ Capellæ Panormitanæ Notitia, p. 2), and Alexander Abbas, in his ‘De Gestis Rogerii,’ ascribes to Guarinus the part assigned by Romuald to Robert (Grævius, v. 115–16). Guarinus was still chancellor in 1137, but Robert was chancellor on 28 April 1140 (ib. iii. 1091; Reg. Cap. Panorm. p. 4). He attested charters of King Roger, at all events as late as 1148 (Grævius, iii. 726, 887, 956, 1361). In 1146 St. William of York, after his rejection by the pope, took refuge with Robert (John of Hexham, pp. 150–2, Surtees Soc.). John of Salisbury (Policraticus, vii. 19) relates how Robert, the English chancellor of King Roger, deceived certain would-be simoniacs. In ordinary course the chancellorship would have led to a bishopric, and possibly the chancellor is the Robert who was bishop of Messina, 1151–66. There is curious parallelism between the characters of Roger of Salisbury and of Robert of Salesby, as sketched by John of Salisbury. Robert was active, and without much learning, very shrewd in the administration of affairs; a man of eloquence, and one whose character commanded respect, while the splendid scale of his expenditure displayed the magnificence of his race (Policr. vii. 19). John of Hexham calls him the most powerful of the king's friends and a man of great wealth. Dr. Stubbs suggests the possibility of some connection between Robert of ‘Salesby’ and Robertus Pullus [see Pullen, Robert].
[Authorities quoted; Pirri Sicilia Sacra ap. Grævii Thesaurum Antiq. et Hist. Siciliæ, ii. (Eccl. Mess. Not. II. i. 285), iii. passim; see also Stubbs's Lectures on Mediæval and Modern Hist. pp. 132–3; Norgate's England under the Angevin Kings, i. 318.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.234
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line |