Kilwardby, Robert

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Kilwardby, Robert (c.1210–79). Dominican scholar, archbishop of Canterbury, and cardinal. Educated at Paris, Kilwardby taught grammar and logic before becoming a Dominican friar (c.1240). Later by upholding traditional scholasticism against the new Aristotelianism he was Aquinas's foremost opponent, though a fellow-Dominican. As occupant of the Oxford Dominican chair (1248–61) and provincial prior of the English Dominicans, he was energetic, establishing eleven new priories. Appointed archbishop by the pope in 1272, he was the first English friar to hold high office, but, little involved politically, he was on good terms with Edward I. Of moderate temper, his primacy was overshadowed by clerical grievances over crusading taxation. He made regular provincial visitations and held frequent synods. He ‘visited’ Oxford (1277) and, like Peckham, denounced its Thomism. To move him from Canterbury, the pope elevated him to the curia as cardinal-bishop of Porto (1278). He died at Viterbo.

Revd Dr William M. Marshall

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