344 Hincmar of Rheims
York: Paulist Press, 1991); Walter Hilton, The Scale of
Perfection,ed. Thomas H. Bestul (Kalamazoo: Western
Michigan University, 2000; Joseph E. Milosh, The Scale of
Perfection and the English Mystical Tradition (Madison:
University of Wisconsin Press, 1966).
Hincmar of Rheims (ca. 806–882)Carolingian bishop,
politician
Born about 806, Hincmar was educated at the monastery
of SAINT-DENIS, near Paris, where he was a disciple of
Abbot Hilduin (806–842) and gained the confidence of
CHARLES THEBALD. As a member of the Carolingian court
in 845, he became the archbishop of RHEIMS. During the
36 years of his episcopate from 845 to 882, Hincmar
struggled to impose his authority in that diocese and
province, against other bishops and against several popes.
Most of his written work was ecclesiastical and legal,
aimed at order for the church and society. Asserting his
authority as bishop, Hincmar deposed the clerics, who
appealed over his head to the papal court. Consolidating
his authority as metropolitan over his suffragans, he was
in conflict with the bishop of Soissons and his own
nephew, the Bishop of Laon. These bishops appealed to
the pope against the decisions inspired by a rival
metropolitan and the emperor Lothair. Hincmar defended
the rights and authority of the archbishop of Rheims over
those of Trier and Sens. Hincmar claimed that no other
archbishop had authority over that of Rheims, which was
subject only to the pope. However, his relations with the
papacy were often strained, and he was among the first to
doubt the FALSE DECRETALS.
Concerned about maintaining society, he developed a
doctrine for the model good prince, strove to limit the
marauding of undisciplined soldiers, and promoted a
Christian model of MARRIAGE while firmly opposing
divorce among the nobility. A loyal supporter of Charles
the Bald against Lothair I (r. 840–843), he wrote a ritual
for Charles’s consecration at Metz in 869. In the theologi-
cal sphere, Hincmar opposed the ideas on PREDESTINA-
TIONand the Trinity developed by the monk Gottschalk
of Orbais (ca. 805–865). Hincmar was always ready for
passionate controversy. As a historian he wrote the last
part of the Annals of Saint-Bertinand composed a Life of
Saint Remigiusin about 878. Hincmar established the
library of Rheims, where there are manuscripts annotated
in his own hand. He died December 21, 882 at Épernay
near Rheims while fleeing from a VIKINGattack.
See also JOHN SCOTTUS ERIUGENA; TRINITARIAN
DOCTRINE.
Further reading:Eleanor Shipley Duckett, Carolin-
gian Portraits: A Study in the Ninth Century(Ann Arbor:
University of Michigan Press, 1962), 202–283; Peter R.
McKeon, Hincmar of Laon and Carolingian Politics
(Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978); Michel Sot,
“Hincmar of Reims,” EMA1.676–7; George H. Tavard,
Trina deitas: The Controversy between Hincmar and
Gottschalk (Milwaukee: Marquette University Press,
1996).hippodromes Hippodromes were arenas for chariot
racing. Long, narrow hairpin-shaped hippodromes such
as the Circus Maximus in ROME, which could accommo-
date 150,000 people, were common in major cities
throughout the empire. Charioteers were immensely
popular figures. The Hippodrome in CONSTANTINOPLE
was situated beside the Great Palace. From an imperial
box the emperor viewed the chariots with four horse
teams as they raced around the central area in sets of
seven laps. Fans developed competing circus factions,
each with their respective racing colors. The Green and
Blue factions were popular in Constantinople in the
sixth century. These circus factions frequently rioted. In
532 BELISARIUSended the “Nika revolt” by killing thou-
sands in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The decline
of racing in the seventh century paralleled the decline of
cities, although in Constantinople the Hippodrome
remained in use until the city was sacked during the
Fourth Crusade in 1204.
Further reading: Alan Cameron, Circus Factions:
Blues and Greens at Rome and Byzantium(Oxford: Claren-
don Press, 1976); J. H. Humphrey, Roman Circuses: Arenas
for Chariot Racing(London: B. T. Batsford, 1986).history SeeCHRONICLES AND ANNALS; NAMES OF HISTO-
RIANS IN INDEX.höfische Minne SeeCOURTLY LOVE.Hohenstaufen dynasty (Staufen, Waiblingen) They
were a German dynasty who ruled the HOLYROMAN
EMPIREin the 12th and 13th centuries. The name was
based on their castle, Staufen, in SWABIA in modern
Württemberg. In the 10th century, the Hohenstaufen
were counts of Weiblingen, from which was derived
their Italian name or Ghibelline. They belonged to a
middle sector of the German nobility, wielding influence
primarily within the duchy of Swabia until the second
half of the 11th century. In 1079 the head of the family,
Frederick I (d. 1105), married Agnes, Emperor Henry
IV’s (r. 1056–1106) daughter. He was appointed duke of
Swabia after defeating a revolt led by Duke Rudolf of
Swabia (d. 1080), who had been elected an antiking.
Frederick I’s sons, Frederick II (r. 1105–47) and Con-
rad, the future Emperor Conrad III (r. 1138–52),
remained loyal to the emperor, Henry V (r. 1106–25), in
the early 11th century. Conrad eventually succeeded to
the imperial throne and was followed by his nephew,
FREDERICKI BARBAROSSA. Frederick gave his son, Fred-
erick, the duchy of Swabia and arranged for his other