Lanfranc was a celebrated Italian jurist who renounced his career to become a Benedictine monk at Bec in Normandy. He served successively as prior of Bec Abbey and abbot of St Stephen in Normandy and then as Archbishop of Canterbury in England, following its Conquest by William the Conqueror.

Was lanfranc a Norman?

Lanfranc, (born c. 1005, Pavia, Lombardy—died May 28, 1089, Canterbury, Kent, Eng.), Italian Benedictine who, as archbishop of Canterbury (1070–89) and trusted counsellor of William the Conqueror, was largely responsible for the excellent church–state relations of William's reign after the Norman Conquest of England.

When did lanfranc become archbishop?

In 1070, after already turning down the position at Rouen, Lanfranc was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury. He set about a reform programme for the see and the Christian church in Norman England. Lanfranc was highly influential.