churchmen. After his ordination as priest in 844, Charles the Bald gave him the oversight of the
abbeys of St. Mary’s, at Compiegne, and of St. Germer’s, at Flaix. He also gave him an estate,^1382
which he made over to the hospice of St. Denis, on his elevation to the archiepiscopate. In December,
844, Hincmar took a prominent part in the council at Verneuil, and in April of the following year
at the council of Beauvais he was elected by the clergy and people of Rheims to be their archbishop.
This choice being ratified by Charles the Bald, and the permission of his abbot being received, he
was consecrated by Rothad, bishop of Soissons, archbishop of Rheims and metropolitan, May 3,
845.
No sooner had he been established in his see and had secured from Charles the restitution
of all property that belonged to it, than trouble broke out. His diocese had fallen into more or less
disorder in consequence of the ten years which had elapsed between Ebo’s deposition and his
election. Hincmar’s first trouble came from Ebo, who contested Hincmar’s election, on the ground
that he was still archbishop. But the council of Paris in 846 affirmed Hincmar’s election, and, in
847, Leo IV. sent him the pallium. The first difficulty being overcome, a second presented itself.
For a few months in 840 Ebo had occupied his old see by force, and during this time bid ordained
several priests. Hincmar degraded them and the council of Soissons in 853 approved his act. But
naturally his course was opposed. The leader of the malcontents was Wulfad, one of the deposed
priests. The matter was not disposed of until 868, when Pope Hadrian decided practically in favor
of the deposed priests, for while exonerating Hincmar of all blame, at the same time he confirmed
the election of Wulfad (866) as archbishop of Bourges.
Another trouble came from Rothad, bishop of Soissons, who had consecrated him, and who
was one of his suffragans. Rothad had deposed a priest, for unchastity and the deposition was
confirmed by an episcopal council. Hincmar took the ground that Rothad, being only a suffragan
bishop, had no right of deposition, and also no right to call a council. He also brought formal charges
of disobedience against him and demanded the reinstatement of the deposed priest. Rothad
persistently refusing compliance was then himself deposed (861). Both parties appealed to the pope,
who at last (January 21, 865) decided in Rothad’s favor and re-instated him.^1383
In 863 Hincmar refused to give his assent as metropolitan to the elevation of Hilduin, brother
of Günther of Cologne, to the bishopric of Cambrai. Hilduin had been nominated to this position
by Lothair, but Hincmar said that he was unfit, and the pope approved of his action.
His longest and hardest fight was with his nephew and namesake, Hincmar, bishop of Laon.
The latter was certainly very insubordinate and disobedient both to his metropolitan and his king.
In consequence Hincmar of Rheims deposed him (871) and the king took him prisoner and blinded
him. Pope Hadrian II. (d. 872) defended him but accomplished nothing. Pope John VIII. also pleaded
his cause, and in 878 gave him permission to recite mass. He died in 882.
These controversies, and those upon Predestination and the Eucharist, and his persecution
of Gottschalk, elsewhere treated at length,^1384 have tended to obscure Hincmar’s just reputation as
a statesman. Yet he was unquestionably the leader in the West Frankish kingdom, and by, his
wisdom and energy preserved the state during a sadly disordered time. His relations with Louis the
(^1382) August 12, 844. See Schrörs, l.c. p. 26.
(^1383) Hefele, IV. 292.
(^1384) See pp. 528 sqq; 552.