Rahere (pronounced[ɹaˈhɪə(ɹ)]), orRaher orRaherius, was a 12th-century Anglo-Norman priest and latercanon regular. He was afavourite ofKing Henry I and is most famous for having foundedSt Bartholomew's Priory and theHospital of St Bartholomew in 1123.
Many of the details of Rahere's life have become confused, having been variously described as acleric, acourtier, aminstrel and ajester, but undoubtedly Rahere existed and did many of the things in the legends about him. He may at different times in his life have been all of these.
Rahere is listed as acanon ofSt Paul's Cathedral in adocument of 1115. On a pilgrimage toRome, he fell ill and had a reputed vision ofSt Bartholomew, who directed him to establish a religioushospital.[1] Upon his return toEngland, he followed this calling and founded a community ofCanons Regular atSmithfield in London, being installed as itsprior, a position he held until his death. An ornate tomb in his memory can be found inside thePriory Church of St Bartholomew the Great.
He is the subject ofRudyard Kipling's poem "Rahere", collected inDebits and Credits, as well as being a major figure in Kipling's story "The Tree of Justice", featuring inRewards and Fairies. He is also a significant character inRosemary Sutcliff's historical novel for children,The Witch's Brat (1970). It seems likely that Sutcliff was first introduced to Rahere by reading Kipling'sRewards and Fairies as a child and later chose him as a character for one of her own books: Kipling's works are a significant and openly acknowledged inspiration for Sutcliff.
Alan Gordon acknowledges Rahere in the Historical Notes toThirteenth Night, the first book in his “Fools Guild” series of historical novels. (Not to be confused with the modernFool's Guild.)
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