Editing Battle Abbey (section)

===Foundation===
[[William I of England|William the Conqueror]] had vowed to build a [[monastery]] in the event that he won the battle. In 1070, [[Pope Alexander II]] ordered the [[Normans]] to do penance for killing so many people during their [[Norman Conquest|conquest of England]]. William vowed to build an [[abbey]] where the [[Battle of Hastings]] had taken place, with the high [[altar]] of the church on the supposed spot where King [[Harold Godwinson|Harold]] fell in battle on Saturday, 14 October 1066.<ref>[https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Battle-East-Sussex/ Johnson, Ben. "Battle, East Sussex", Historic UK]</ref>

William started building it but died before it was completed. The [[Vill]] survey of 1076 and early legal documents of adjoining property refer to a hospital or guesthouse which was attached to the gate of the abbey.<ref>"Hospitals: Battle." ''A History of the County of Sussex'': Volume 2. Ed. William Page. London: Victoria County History, 1973. 98. [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol2/p98 British History Online] Retrieved 24 June 2019.</ref> The monastic buildings were about a mile in circuit and formed a large quadrangle, the high altar of the church being on the spot where Harold fell. The church was finished in about 1094 and consecrated during the reign of his son [[William II of England|William II]] (commonly known as William Rufus). The king presented there his father's sword and coronation robes.

[[File:Battleabbey-wyrdlight-0190.jpg|thumb|left|Battle Abbey – [[wikt:dorter|Dorter]]]]
The first monks were from the Benedictine Abbey of Marmoutier; the new foundation was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, St. Mary and St. Martin. It was designed for one hundred and forty monks, though there were never more than sixty in residence at one time.<ref name=Burton>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02350c.htm Burton, Edwin. "Battle Abbey." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 29 August 2022 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

William I had ruled that the church of St Martin of Battle was to be exempted from all episcopal jurisdiction, putting it on the level of Canterbury. The abbey was enriched by many privileges, including the right of [[Sanctuary#Legal sanctuary|sanctuary]], of [[Treasure trove#England and Wales common law|treasure trove]], of [[free warren]], and of [[Inquests in England and Wales|inquest]], and the inmates and tenants were exempt from all [[Episcopal polity|episcopal]] and [[Secularity|secular]] jurisdiction. It was ruled by a mitred abbot who afterward had a seat in Parliament and who had the curious privilege of pardoning any criminal he might meet being led to execution.<ref name=Burton/>

[[Walter de Luci]] became abbot in 1139 and made several improvements. During the reign of [[Henry II of England]], rival church authorities at Canterbury and Chichester unsuccessfully tested the charter.<ref>{{Cite web |editor-last=Page |editor-first=William |editor-link=William Page (historian) |title=Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Battle {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol2/pp52-56 |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=british-history.ac.uk}}</ref> At the Abbey was kept the famous "[[Battle Abbey Roll|Roll of Battle Abbey]]" which was a list of all those who accompanied William from Normandy. As time went on and the honour of descent from one of these Norman families was more highly thought of, unauthentic additions seem to have been made.<ref name=Burton/>