Editing Theobald of Bec (section)

===Early years===
[[File:Great Seal of King Stephen.jpg|thumb|300px|Both sides of the seal of [[Stephen, King of England|Stephen]], from an engraving made in 1846]]
Theobald was consecrated on 8 January 1139 by the legate, Alberic of Ostia.<ref name=Bartlett401/> He went to Rome for his [[pallium]]<ref name=Barlow94/> and took part in the [[Second Council of the Lateran|Second Lateran Council]].<ref name=Barlow110>Barlow ''English Church'' pp. 110–112</ref> As archbishop his behaviour was less political in comparison to that of his main rival, Henry of Blois.<ref name=Appleby60/> Henry was appointed a [[papal legate]] on 1 March 1139,<ref name=BHOWinch>Greenway "Winchester: Bishops" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces)</ref> which meant that Henry could now call church councils in England and had power equal to or exceeding that of Theobald.<ref name=Salt15>Saltman ''Theobald'' pp. 15–16</ref> Theobald swore fealty to Stephen upon his election to Canterbury, recognising Stephen as the king of England.<ref name=DNB/>

Soon after his election Theobald selected his brother Walter to be [[archdeacon]] of Canterbury, and in 1148 promoted him to be [[Bishop of Rochester]].<ref name=Bartlett411>Bartlett ''England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings'' p. 411</ref> Theobald attended the council held by Stephen in June 1139 that deprived [[Roger of Salisbury]], [[Bishop of Salisbury]], and his nephews [[Nigel (bishop of Ely)|Nigel]], [[Bishop of Ely]], and [[Alexander of Lincoln|Alexander]], [[Bishop of Lincoln]], of their castles.<ref name=Appleby72>Appleby ''Troubled Reign of King Stephen'' p. 72</ref> According to most historians, Theobald took little part in the controversy that followed the council, which eventually ended with Roger's death in 1139 and Nigel and Alexander's restoration to favour.<ref name=DNB/><ref name=Boll441>Bollerman and Nederman "King Stephen" ''Journal of Medieval History'' pp. 441–442</ref> Recently however, that view has been challenged by two historians who argue that Theobald took a more active role in the council. They base their view on a ''Vita'', or ''Life'' of the 12th-century mystic [[Christina of Markyate]], which narrates the events and gives a more central role to Theobald, instead of Henry of Blois, in challenging Stephen's arrest of the three bishops.<ref name=Boll441/>