Stigand (died 1072)

English prelate. In 1047 he became bishop of Winchester, England, and undertook negotiations between Edward the Confessor and Godwin in 1051–52. When the latter re-established his position in England, Robert of Jumièges fled, and Stigand was uncanonically appointed archbishop of Canterbury in his place in 1052; he was accordingly excommunicated by five popes successively, but received the pallium from the antipope Benedict X in 1058.

A covetous and worldly man, he exemplified many of the weaknesses in the English Church before the Conquest. Nevertheless, he retained his position until in 1070, when he was charged with various ecclesiastical offences by the papal legate. He was deprived of his see and imprisoned.