A register of recorded visits of the English to Rome between 600 and 1066: pilgrims and penitents, kings and queens, archbishops travelling for the pallium, and those who died there.
'After he [Oftfor] had spent some further time in sacred studies there [in Kent], he decided to go to Rome too, which in those days was considered to be act of great merit.' Bede, HE iv. 23.
Ine, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome in 726. 'At this time many Englishmen, nobles and commons, layfolk and clergy, men and women, were eager to do the same thing.' Bede, HE v. 7.
Why they went: episcopal 12 · royal 7 · pallium 7 · pilgrimage 1 · died in Rome 1 · monastic 1
8th century 2 visits
Ine, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome, as a pilgrim.
pilgrimageroyalBede, HE, v. 7
Bishop Forthhere [of Sherborne] and Queen Frithugyth went to Rome.
royalepiscopalASC
9th century 5 visits
Archbishop Æthelheard and Cyneberht, bishop of the West Saxons [Winchester], went to Rome.
episcopalASC
Archbishop Wulfred and Wigbeorht, bishop of the West Saxons [Sherborne], went to Rome.
episcopalASC
Alfred, son of King Æthelwulf, in Rome. <Possible that he was accompanied by his elder brother Æthelred.>
royalASCAsser, ch. 00Liber Vitae of Brescia
King Æthelwulf in Rome, with his son Alfred.
royalLiber PontificalisAnnals of Saint-BertinASCAsser, ch. 00Liber Vitae of Brescia
Burgred, king of the Mercians, and Queen Æthelswith.
royalASCAsser, ch. 00Liber Vitae of Brescia
10th century 5 visits
Archbishop Plegmund went to Rome.
episcopalÆthelweard, Chronicon
Archbishop Wulfhelm went to Rome.
episcopalASC MS E s.a. 927
The priest Æthelmod went to Rome, and died there on 15 August.
died in RomeASC MS A s.a. 962
Bishop Sigeric (Canterbury) went to Rome, for his pallium.
palliumepiscopalBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 133r (ed. Liebermann, p. 3)ASC MS F, for 990. Comment: Itinerarysee Ortenberg, in ASE
Bishop Ælfric (Canterbury) went to Rome, for his pallium.
palliumepiscopalBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 133r (ed. Liebermann, p. 3)ASC MS F, s.a. 997
11th century 7 visits
Bishop Ælfheah (Canterbury) went to Rome, for his pallium.
palliumepiscopalBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 133r (ed. Liebermann, p. 3)ASC MS D, s.a. 1006
Bishop Æthelnoth (Canterbury) went to Rome, for his pallium; accompanied by Leofwine, abbot of Ely.
palliumepiscopalmonasticASC MSS CDEF, s.a. 1022, with circumstantial detailsBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 134r (ed. Liebermann, p. 3)
Bishop Ælfric (York) went to Rome and received pallium from Pope John on 12 November.
palliumepiscopalASC MS D, s.a. 1026
King Cnut went to Rome, for the coronation of the Emperor Conrad II.
royalCnut's Letter of 1027ASC MSS CDE, s.a. 1031etc
Bishop Eadsige went to Rome, for his pallium.
palliumepiscopalBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 134r (ed. Liebermann, p. 3)
(Easter). Bishop Heremann [Sherborne] and Bishop Aldred [Worcester] went to Rome 'on the king's business'; and for the 'great synod'.
royalepiscopalASC MS C, s.a. 1049-50ASC MSS DE, s.a. 1050
<Pope Benedict sent the pallium to Stigand.>
palliumBL Cotton Caligula A. xv, fol. 135r (ed. Liebermann, p. 4)
No visits match.
Transferred from the earlier Kemble website (Trinity College, Cambridge, 2000–2), where it was marked provisional and under construction; reformatted here, with the wording unchanged.