Hincmar of Rheims

Gabriella Corona (University of York)

Ed. by Hugh Magennis, Queen's University Belfast
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.01: French Writing and Culture: Old French to the Middle Ages , 500-1400.
Vol. editors: Marianne Ailes (University of Bristol), Matthew Siôn Lampitt (University of Bristol), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

Born 806
Died 882
Activity c. 830-882

Places

Born in France
Active in France; Germany

Activities

Primary

Archbishop
Political Philosopher
Political Theorist

Resources

Hincmar's Works

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The long-lived Archbishop of Reims left behind him a powerful memory and a substantial corpus of writings. He received his monastic education at St Denis under abbot Hilduin (one of the most prominent Carolingian scholars). In 834 he first went to the court of Louis the Pious, and when this king died, he became a supporter of Charles the Bald, through whose influence he was elected Archbishop pf Reims (845). After the death of Lothar II (869), whom the archbishop had violently opposed (see below), Hincmar crowned Charles the Bald as King of Lorraine, opposing the wishes of Pope Hadrian II. Hincmar died at Epernay where he had taken refuge after a Norman incursion.

In the early stages of his career Hincmar became involved in the predestination controversy which divided Carolingian

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478 words

Citation: Corona, Gabriella. "Hincmar of Rheims". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 June 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5930, accessed 22 November 2024.]