Longchamp, WILLIAM DE

Longchamp, WILLIAM DE, a Norman of low birth, and a favourite of King Richard I. The latter, on his accession, made Longchamp Bishop of Ely, and in 1190 joint-justiciar of England with Hugh de Pudsey; in 1191 he was likewise made papal legate. But his ambition, his arrogance, and his unpopular manners, combined with his oppressive taxation, made him greatly disliked, and Richard was obliged to send him back to Normandy. He regained the royal favour by his energy in raising the king's ransom; his reward came in the appointment of chancellor. He died in 1197, having been overthrown by the parties of John, Geoffrey Plantagenet, the Barons, and Walter de Contances, some time before. He disliked the English, and displayed his contempt for them in the coarsest way, declaring that he did not understand their language and would not speak it. Nevertheless he was a clever and energetic ruler, administered strict justice, and was faithful to his prince. See the French monograph by L. Boivin Champeaux (Evreux, 1886).