LANFRANC, libefrank (c.1005-89). The most eminent of the foreign churchmen who rose to distinction in the mediaeval Church of Eng land. He was horn of a noble family at Pavia, about 1005, and educated, partly in Pavia. partly at Bologna. for the profession of the law. In the hope of greater distinction, he removed to France, and founded at Avranches. in Nor mandy. a school of law (c.1039), which soon became one of the most popular in France. In 1042 he entered the monastery of Bee, not far from Rouen. and in 1045 was appointed prior and opened a school in the monastery which was soon thronged. In 1066 he left Bee and became abbot of a new monastery at Caen founded by William, Duke of Normandy. The latter selected him, after the conquest of England. to fill the primatial see of Canterbury. and he was induced with much re luctance to accept it in 1070. Under his spiritual rule. the Church of England received as strong
an infusion of the Norman element as was forced upon the political system of England by the iron hand of the Conqueror. Lanfrane outlived Wil liam: and to his influence the historians mainly ascribed the peaceful submission with which that monarch's successor, William Rufus, was accepted by the Kingdom, as well as the comparative mod eration of the earlier years of his reign. Lan franc died at Canterbury on 24, 1089. Ills chief writings are commentaries on the Epistles of Saint Paul. the treatise against Berengar, lie Co•pore et .sanguine Domini, and sermons. Ills letters also are interesting. The first complete edition of his works is that of D'Aehilry (Paris, 1648). They are also found in Migne, Patrol. Let., el. Consult his Life by Crozals (Paris, 1877).