Editing Theobald of Bec (section)

===Appointment to Canterbury===

In 1138 King Stephen chose Theobald to fill the vacant archbishopric of Canterbury over Stephen's own brother Henry, the Bishop of Winchester, who had helped Stephen gain the throne of England. Stephen feared that Henry would be too powerful as archbishop, and would attempt to control the king.<ref name=Barlow94>Barlow ''English Church'' pp. 94–97</ref> The election took place on 24&nbsp;December; Stephen was present with the papal legate, [[Alberic of Ostia]], and a small group of barons and bishops, but Henry was absent overseeing the ordination of deacons. Most historians consider that Stephen arranged the election's timing to ensure Henry's absence. Henry believed that Theobald had been elected not only because of Stephen's concerns but also because [[Waleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester|Waleran of Meulan]], the [[Patronage|lay patron]] of Bec, was attempting to put his own man in one of the most powerful positions in England. Waleran and his twin brother [[Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester|Robert, Earl of Leicester]], were Henry's chief rivals for Stephen's favour, and Henry disliked both of them intensely.<ref name=Stephen27/><ref name=Crouch91>Crouch ''Reign of King Stephen'' pp. 91–92</ref> Although Theobald was pious and well-educated, he had only become abbot the year before, and his election was probably influenced by the reputation of his monastery, which had already produced two archbishops of Canterbury, [[Lanfranc]] and [[Anselm of Canterbury|Anselm]].<ref name=Appleby60>Appleby ''Troubled Reign of King Stephen'' pp. 60–61</ref> Theobald had no important family connections to advance his career, and few clerical allies.<ref name=Matthew87>Matthew ''King Stephen'' p. 87</ref>