Tension between bishop and count in 12th century + existence of "chaplains"

[rosesnake]

Hello everyone,

I'm not so much looking for answers to a question here as advice and suggestions (hope that's ok).

My situation is this :

Comments

1/2.

[irreparable]

Ah righto, that makes things clearer. In this case, not changing the setting and focussing on Raymond, with there being some sort of line about how your count responds to the call of the king of Outremer, you should be okay. For the rest of it, well, mass is usually celebrated on the sabbath, confession would be when those who wished to confess desired it. What you could have as the beginning of the antagonism between duke and bishop could be a rumbling between personalities--not everyone gets along, even if a man of the cloth is supposed to be above those things. (They were just as involved in politics, if not more, than the gentry of the court). To exacerbate that, your bishop could find it un-Christian that your duke doesn't attend confession often enough, or that his court don't all attend mass on the sabbath, or any sort of thing that would stir the secular versus the church.

You could then build on that by having the duke write to the pope asking for a new bishop. That was certainly acceptable. But remember that the papal see was (and probably still is!) full of intrigue and politicking of its own, with loyalties and alliances changing often, so someone there, perhaps a cardinal, could contact the bishop to let him know what his duke has done. That would definitely increase tensions a *lot*, especially if your bishop feels that he's above the duke as he's a man of God, and the duke is a boor who is too close to worldy matters and not the holy cause of "liberating" Outremer from the "heathen". (I use parentheses because really, they could all be as bad or as good as each other, people being people.)

Most castles had a chapel. A cathedral was a separate building to show off the wealth and stature of the region. If you're in Outremer and you've got your Tripoli-esque situation, having an elaborate chapel within the castle would be the best and most believable. The bishop would have a few accolytes and probably a chaplain or two as well, his own little court within the court. So getting into each of your questions now.

But would he personnally celebrate mass for the count daily and hear his confession every time (also : how frequently did they confess back then, I assume at least once a week) ?
As often as the individual wanted. Usually that was once a week at a minimum, the more devout would confess every day and pray in the chapel twice a day, matins and nocht (evening).

Or would he delegate someone (of his choosing) to do it ?
The bish or his chaplains could take confession. Accolytes couldn't, they're novices.