he was born in the limousin, part of occitania, france. he was educated at cluny, at limoges, and in castile, where he was a deacon at toledo. in 1098/1099 his cluniac connections recommended him as bishop of coimbra. after a four-year pilgrimage to the holy land, he was made archbishop of braga in 1111. there he was one of the principal agents of the burgundian henry, count of portugal, in his reorganization of the portuguese church.