robert.pullen
(also known as POLENIUS, PULLAN, PULLEIN, PULLENUS, PULLY, LA POULE)
This Robert Pullen died in 1147 (?). Nothing much is known of his early life except that he was of English parentage, possibly from Poole or Devonshire. He was educated in England and in 1134 he was Archdeacon of Rochester.
However, when troubles begain in England after the accession of King Stephen in 1135 he moved to Paris where he apparently became a lecturer, teaching logic and theology. Among his pupils was John of Salisbury, who describes him as a man commended both by his life and his learning. That was in 1141 or 1142.
Archdeacon Pullen got into trouble with his bishop for having been absent from his duties in Rochester: there is a letter which is undated but predated 1143 written by St Bernard to Bishop of Rochester in which he makes excuses for detaining Robert Pullen in Paris "on account of the sound doctrine which is recognized in him." St Bernard also blames the bishop for seizing the archdeacon's goods, and begs that Robert Pullen may stay longer in Paris where he is necessary.
In 1143 or thereabouts he probably went to Rome, on the invitation of Innocent II, who died in September of that year. Robert Pullen then found favour with the new pope, Celestine II, who created him a cardinal (Ciaconius). Pope Lucius, who became Pope in 1144, appointed Robert Pullen Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, an office which he was discharging through 1145 and 1146 - when St. Bernard's disciple, Eugenius III, became pope in 1145 the saint wrote a letter to Cardinal Pullen begging him to console and counsel the new pontiff.
At some point, probably during the reign of Henry I, Robert Pullen returned to Oxford to teach, and became one of the first masters whose names have been recorded. He opened schools there and taught without exacting fees; he is said to have supported many scholars at his own expense and to have been largely instrumental in fostering the growth of the Oxford schools. John of Hexham, writing within 50 years of Robert Pullen's death, says that Henry I offered him a bishopric which he refused, being devoted to the study of philosophy.
As a theologian Cardinal Pullen used all his influence against the heretical teaching of Abelard, and he broke new ground in his wide-ranging theological treatise "Sententiarum Logicarum Libri VIII" (although his work was soon supplanted by that of Peter Lombard). His other wirks included the unpublished "Sermones", of which a manuscript copy is still preserved at Lambeth Palace.
(ref: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12563a.htm added: 11th February 2002)
