[MR] Wikipedia: Robert Blackadder, Archbishop of Glasgow

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, especially fellow Scots,

On this date in 1508 Glasgow's Archbishop, Robert Blackadder, died during a
pilgrimage.

Besides having a really cool name, Robert Blackadder was one of the most
important churchmen in Scotland during the late 15th and early 16th
centuries.

He first rose to prominence when appointed Abbot at the powerful Cistercian
Melrose Abbey in 1471. Being neither a Cistercian nor a monk, his
appointment was disputed by the Melrose chapter. In 1480 Blackadder was
elected Bishop of Aberdeen, but again church politics intervened, and he
apparently never assumed this office.

Robert Blackadder finally found a home as Bishop of Glasgow in 1483.
Elevation of the see of St. Andrews to archbishop level, and thus control
of all Scottish churches, did not sit well with the other bishops. Nor was
King James IV happy with so much power in the hands of one man. At King
James' request, Glasgow was also raised to the archbishop level in 1492.
Thus Bishop Robert became the first archbishop of Glasgow.

As bishop, and archbishop, Robert Blackadder was an important royal
diplomat for King James IV. He was instrumental in several missions abroad,
including arranging the marriage between James and Margaret Tudor (daughter
of Henry VII, and older sister to Henry VIII).

Archbishop Blackadder was responsible for the "Blackadder Aisle", a major
expansion at Glasgow Cathedral. Sadly he did not live to see it finished.

In 1508 Archbishop Blackadder departed Scotland on a pilgrimage to the Holy
Land. He died during this pilgrimage, although Wikipedia is silent on the
cause and location. According to historian Peter Yeomans, after departing
Venice by ship the archbishop and most of his retinue died somewhere in the
eastern Mediterranean. Their ship was a cramped and unsanitary common cargo
vessel (a tragic example of legendary Scottish cheapness?). Some sources
suggest Archbishop Blackadder may have caught the plague, but it could have
been from any of several maladies often lumped together under that
catch-all.

More about Archbishop Blackadder is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blackadder .

Archbishop Blackadder figures in my own SCA backstory. To see how I
incorporated him and two other historical figures (Donald Le Nae Peer and
Sir Oliver Sinclair), go to
https://isenfir.atlantia.sca.org/people/mungo.php .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Keeping Merry Rose relevant for 16 years.