A Prosopography of the Castilian Episcopate in the Reign of Alfonso VIII

This chapter examines the role of the Castilian episcopate during the reign of Alfonso VIII. The bishops of Castile during Alfonso VIII's reign were as vibrant a class as any in Europe in the long twelfth century. During that span, prelates were promoted more frequently based on merit and connections to aristocratic power centers than based solely on direct royal appointment. The composition of the clergy in the period, as a result, represents the increasing connectivity of local potentates and their networks to the multiple levels of the Castilian monarchy. That bishops were important functionaries in medieval kingdoms, and especially in Castile-León, hardly constitutes news, but perhaps more important is the collective picture. The chapter then looks at the background of each of the bishops to better understand both the makeup of the class of some of the king's most powerful vassals and the monarchy as well.