The Universal Synod of Ingelheim began on June 7, 948 in the then church of

Saint Remigius Remigius (french: Remi or ; – January 13, 533), was the Bishop of Reims and "Apostle of the Franks". On 25 December 496, he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks. The baptism, leading to about 3000 additional converts, was an important event ...

Ingelheim Ingelheim (), officially Ingelheim am Rhein ( en, Ingelheim upon Rhine), is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. The town sprawls along the Rhine's west bank. It has been Mainz-Bingen's district seat ...

. Being summoned by

Pope Agapetus II Pope Agapetus II (died 8 November 955) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 10 May 946 to his death. A nominee of the princeps of Rome, Alberic II of Spoleto, his pontificate occurred during the period known as the ''Saeculu ...

its primary goal was to resolve a long running

Schism A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...

concerning the archiepiscopal see of

Reims Reims ( , , ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne. Founded by ...

. The

synod A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the Latin ...

was presided by Marinus of Bomarzo, then the Roman Church's librarian. In the run up to the convocation there were two earlier synods, in

Verdun Verdun (, , , ; official name before 1970 ''Verdun-sur-Meuse'') is a large city in the Meuse department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital ...

in November 947 and in Mouzon in the beginning of 948, both considering the same problem but unable to resolve it.

Topics

Since 931 the archiepiscopal see was claimed by Hugh of Vermandois and

Artald of Reims Artald of Reims (died October 1, 961) was twice Archbishop of Reims. He held the post first 931 to 940, when he was displaced by Hugh of Vermandois. He was restored, with the help of Louis IV of France, in 946. Biography In 931 he was imposed as b ...

. Hugh was supported by his uncle,

Hugh the Great Hugh the Great (16 June 956) was the duke of the Franks and count of Paris. Biography Hugh was the son of King Robert I of France and Béatrice of Vermandois.Detlev Schwennicke, '' Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europ ...

while Artald was supported by both Louis IV. and

Otto the Great Otto I (23 November 912 – 7 May 973), traditionally known as Otto the Great (german: Otto der Große, it, Ottone il Grande), was East Frankish king from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death in 973. He was the oldest son of Henr ...

. The aforementioned appeared at the synod in person while Hugh the Great was absent and not even substituted for. A clerk of Hugh of Vermandois named Sigbaldus then presented a letter stating that Guy, Bishop of Soissons, Hildegarius of Beauvais, Raoul Iof Laon and the remaining bishops of the province of Reims had sent letters requesting Hugh be restored to the bishopric of Reims and Artald be expelled.''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims, 919–966'', ed. & trans. Steven Fanning; Bernard S. Bachrach (Toronto: University of Toronto Press Inc., 2004), pp. 48-9 Several of the bishops named stood up and protested they had not seen, nor heard, nor authorized such a letter. Sigbaldus was exiled and it was ruled that the see was to be given to Artald. The following day Archbishop Robert of Trier stated that because the diocese of Reims had been restored to Artald, the synod should judge the one who invaded that see.''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims, 919–966'', ed. & trans. Steven Fanning; Bernard S. Bachrach (Toronto: University of Toronto Press Inc., 2004), p. 49 The canons of holy law having been read, they decreed that Hugh of Vermandois was

excommunicated Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...

and removed from the church "until he should do penance and make worthy satisfaction." Other important matters included

consanguineous Consanguinity ("blood relation", from Latin '' consanguinitas'') is the characteristic of having a kinship with another person (being descended from a common ancestor). Many jurisdictions have laws prohibiting people who are related by blood fro ...

marriages. In order to inadvertently avoid marrying someone within the

prohibited degree of kinship In law, a prohibited degree of kinship refers to a degree of consanguinity (blood relatedness) and sometimes affinity (relation by marriage or sexual relationship) between persons that results in certain actions between them being illegal. Two major ...

all Christians were strongly recommended to keep a list of their ancestors and that nobles compare such lists before contracting a marriage.Constance B. Bouchard, 'Consanguinity and Noble Marriages in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries', Speculum, Vol. 56, No. 2 (Apr., 1981), p. 272 Other subjects included the founding of missionary dioceses in Scandinavia, this fact being the reason for the attendance of the bishops Liopdgad of Ripen,

Oredo Oredo is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in Benin City. Its capital city is Benin City which also is the capital city of Edo State, Nigeria. Benin City is also the capital city of the Benin Empire. The Oba ...

of Schleswig and

Reginbrand of Aarhus Reginbrand (d. 988) was a bishop of the Ancient See of Aarhus. He was ordained by bishop Adaldag of Hamburg-Bremen in 948 in the first ordination of bishops in the Scandinavian countries. The ordination had the explicit support of the pope who wishe ...

. Another issue was to restrict the Ottonic proprieritary church system.

Importance

Being attained by the two kings of

East East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...

and

West Francia In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from about ...

, 32 archbishops and bishops as well as other clerical dignitaries this synod was one of the most important assemblies being held in Ingelheim and one of the climaxes in Ingelheim's importance as one of the political centres of the empire.

Participants

Apart from Louis, Otto and Marinus

Regesta Imperii Papal regesta are the copies, generally entered in special registry volumes, of the papal letters and official documents that are kept in the papal archives. The name is also used to indicate subsequent publications containing such documents, in c ...

mentions the following participants: #

Frederick of Mainz Frederick (died October 954) was the Archbishop of Mainz from 937, following the late Hildebert, until his death. He was a son of Reginar, Duke of Lorraine. Immediately, Frederick acted as an opponent of Otto the Great, one of the most consis ...

# Ruotbert of Trier, # Wicfrid von Köln, #

Artald, Archbishop of Reims Artald of Reims (died October 1, 961) was twice Archbishop of Reims. He held the post first 931 to 940, when he was displaced by Hugh of Vermandois. He was restored, with the help of Louis IV of France, in 946. Biography In 931 he was imposed as b ...

, # Adaldag of Hamburg, # Herold of Salzburg, #Richgowo of Worms, #

Ulrich of Augsburg Ulrich of Augsburg (890 – 4 July 973), sometimes spelled Uodalric or Odalrici, was Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg in Germany. He was the first saint to be canonized not by a local authority but by the Pope. Life Early years Much of the informa ...

, #Bernhard of Halberstadt, #Diethard of Hildesheim, #

Conrad of Constance Conrad of Constance (german: Konrad von Konstanz; la, Conradus, Curtius; 900 26 November 975) was a German bishop and saint. Life Conrad was a member of the powerful Elder Welfs, Welf family, son of Count Heinrich of Weingarten (Württemberg), ...

, #Starcand of Eichstätt, #Dudo of Paderborn, #Reginbald of Speyer, # Bobbo of Würzburg, #

Adalbero I of Metz Adalbero I of Metz (died (?)26 April 962) was an important member of the clergy during the middle years of the tenth century, serving as Bishop of Metz from 929 till 954. He also became Abbot of Sint-Truiden in 944: he presided over a period of ...

, # Gauzelin of Toul, #Berengar of Verdun, # Balderic of Utrecht, #Dodo of Osnabrück, #Eberis of Minden, #Hildbold of Münster, #Varaberd of Tungern, #Fulbert of Cambrai, #Raoul of Laon, #Michael of Regensburg, # Adalbert of Passau, #

Leofdag of Ribe Leofdag of Ribe was the first Bishop of Ribe in Denmark, later regarded as a local saint but never canonized. Ribe was established as a diocese for Leofdag in 948 under the supervision of the Archbishop of Hamburg, who was authorized by the Roman C ...

, #Oredo of Schleswig, # Reginbrand of Aarhuus, #Wichard of Basel (questionable)

References

Additional references

* Pertz, G.H. (Hrsg.): ''Monumenta Historica Germaniæ'' (= MGH LL 2), p. 19ff., Hannover, 1837. * Flodoard von Reims, Stratmann, Martina (Hrsg): ''Historia Remensis Ecclesiæ'', (= MGH SS XXXVI), Liber IV cap. XXXV (=S. 428ff.), Hannover 1998 * Hehl, Dieter (Hrsg.): ''Die Konzilien Deutschlands und Reichsitaliens 916-1001'' (= MGH Conc 6/1), p. 135ff., Hannover 1987 * Böhmer, J. F: ''Regesta Imperii II. Sächsisches Haus 919-1024. 5: Papstregesten 911-1024'' Böhmer, Johann Friedrich; Zimmermann, Harald (Bearb.). {{Authority control 10th-century church councils 948 10th century in Germany