Fromund Le Brun

Fromund le Brun (died 1283) was an English-born cleric and judge in Ireland who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He lost a long battle to become Archbishop of Dublin, due to his notorious pluralism.[1]

Early career

He may have been a descendant of Sir William le Brun, who came to Ireland during the Norman Invasion of Ireland.[2] He is said to have been illegitimate.[3] He is first heard of in Ireland in 1248 as a clerk to the Justiciar of Ireland, and apparently gained considerable judicial experience in this way. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1259 and held the office with (possibly) one intermission until his death in 1283. He was a noted pluralist: he was appointed Archdeacon of Waterford, while he also held livings in the dioceses of Dublin, Winchester and Salisbury. He became a papal chaplain in 1259.[4]

Failure to become Archbishop of Dublin

He was the choice of the monks of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin ( then called Holy Trinity Priory), to be Archbishop of Dublin in 1271, on the death of Fulk Basset,[5] but he was opposed by William de la Corner, who was the choice of the Chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.[6] The matter dragged on for several years, and was in due course referred to the Pope. Le Brun's record of pluralism destroyed his chances of becoming Archbishop, when it was found that he was unlawfully in possession of one of his benefices. Pope Gregory X declared his election void, but also passed over William in favour of a compromise candidate, John de Derlington, who as a royal confessor also enjoyed the confidence of the English Crown, (in the event, detained by official business in England, he died before ever setting foot in Ireland).[7] William de la Corner subsequently became Bishop of Salisbury.

Roebuck Castle

Fromund bought Roebuck Castle, in the south of County Dublin in 1261; it is possible that the purchase was a mistake from the financial point of view, since he was rumoured to be heavily in debt shortly before his death.[8] Roebuck passed to Nigel le Brun, who seems to have been Fromund's nephew. The Le Brun family remained at Roebuck until the late fifteenth century, when it passed by marriage to the first Baron Trimlestown, who married Elizabeth le Brun, daughter of Christopher le Brun, the last male member of the family.[9] It is now part of the campus of University College Dublin. Fromund also held lands at Tankardstown in County Meath, which he later granted to Theobald Butler.[10]

Ruins of Roebuck Castle, by Gabriel Beranger, 1765

He was succeeded as Lord Chancellor by Walter de Fulburn.

References
  1. McInerney, M. H. A History of the Irish Dominicans Brown and Nolan Dublin 1916 Vol. 1 p.345
  2. O'Hart, John The Irish Landed Gentry when Cromwell came to Ireland Dublin M.H. Gill and Co. 1884
  3. McInerney p.345
  4. McInerney p.345
  5. D'Alton, John Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin Hodges and Smith Dublin 1838 p.103
  6. McInerney p.345
  7. McInerney p.345
  8. Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926
  9. Ball, F. Elrington History of Dublin Vol.2 1903 Alexander Thom and Co. p.77
  10. National Library of Ireland D184
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