William of Wykeham (1320 – September 27, 1404), Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College and of New College, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle, was born in Wickham, Hampshire. Events January 20 - Dante - Quaestio de Aqua et Terra January 20 - Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland April 6 - The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... Events June 14 - Owain Glyndwr of Wales allies with the French against the English and the Henry of Lancaster. ... Arms of the Bishop of Winchester The diocese of Winchester is one of the oldest and most important in England. ... Various governments have a Chancellor who serves as some form of junior or senior minister. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... Winchester College is a public school in the city of Winchester in Hampshire, in the south of England. ... College name New College Named after Mary, mother of Jesus Established 1379 Sister College Kings College Warden Prof. ... Windsor Castle: The Round Tower or keep dominating the castle, as seen from the River Thames. ... Map sources for Wickham at grid reference SU572115 Wickham, formerly spelled Wykeham, is a civil parish and small market town in Hampshire, southern England, about three miles north of Fareham, and part of the City of Winchester local government district. ... Hampshire (abbr. ...

William was born to an undistinguished family in Hampshire and educated at a school in Winchester. He became secretary to the constable of Winchester Castle and in that capacity learned a lot about building. This led to architectural work for King Edward III, for whom he reconstucted Windsor Castle. William was paid for these services by being given the incomes of various churches, and eventually, in 1362, he was ordained. He had shown considerable talent as an administrator and in 1366 he became Bishop of Winchester, and in the following year, Chancellor of England. He resigned this position in 1371 and began a long conflict with John of Gaunt. However, with the ascension of Richard II to the throne, William was reappointed Chancellor in 1389. A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. ... A castle in Winchester called Winchester Castle ... Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ... Windsor Castle: The Round Tower or keep dominating the castle, as seen from the River Thames. ... Centuries: 13th century - 14th century - 15th century Decades: 1310s 1320s 1330s 1340s 1350s - 1360s - 1370s 1380s 1390s 1400s 1410s Years: 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 - 1362 - 1363 1364 1365 1366 1367 See also: 1362 state leaders Events Under Edward III, English replaces French as Englands national language, for the... Events Births Anne of Bohemia, Queen consort of Richard II of England. ... Arms of the Bishop of Winchester The diocese of Winchester is one of the oldest and most important in England. ... The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor and in former times Chancellor of England, is one of the most senior and important functionaries in the government of the United Kingdom. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Kogon of Japan, fourth of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Start of the reign of Emperor Go-Enyu of Japan, fifth and last of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Charterhouse Carthusian Monastery founded in Aldersgate, London. ... John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (June 24, 1340 - February 3, 1399), the third surviving son of King Edward III of England, gained his name because he was born at Ghent in 1340. ... Richard II (January 6, 1367 – February 14, 1400) was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, and Joan The Fair Maid of Kent. He was born at Bordeaux and became his fathers heir when his elder brother died in infancy. ... Events February 24 - Margaret I defeats Albert in battle, thus becoming ruler of Denmark, Norway and Sweden June 28 - Battle of Kosovo between Serbs and Ottomans. ...

He had many ups and downs in his long career, but at the time of his death, he was one of the richest men in England. Much of his wealth went into the schools he patronized, but he also contrived to leave a fortune to a nephew, whose descendents include the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family.

His motto was 'Manners maketh man'. This, along with a heraldic style crest, were adopted by him and not acquired by descent. His biography was written by Bishop Lowth. He was also written about by Lord Brougham in his 'Old England's Worthies' (1857) and by Froissart. Robert Lowth, D. D. Lord Bishop of London Robert Lowth (November 27, 1710 – November 3, 1787) was a Bishop of the Church of England, a professor of poetry at Oxford University and the author of one of the most influential textbooks of English grammar. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Jean Froissart (~1337 - ~1405) was one of the most important of the chroniclers of medieval France. ...

His family name, despite what the spelling seems to indicate, is pronounced "wickum".

Further reading

• CAMPBELL, Lives of the Lord Chancellors (London, 1848), I, xv, xvii
• DRANE, The Three Chancellors (London, 1882), 1-112
• KITCHIN, Winchester in Historic Towns Series (London, 1890).
• LOWTH, Life of William of Wykeham (London, 1759)
• MOBERLY, Life of William Wykeham (Wells, 1887)
• WALCOTT, William of Wykeham and his Colleges (London, 1897)