he Deposition of Arnulf and the Contested Appointment of Gerbert of Aurillac (991–996)

By 991, Hugh Capet had secured his dynasty’s future by making his son, Robert II, joint sovereign, ensuring a smooth Capetian succession. However, he still faced a lingering Carolingian threat, particularly from Charles of Lorraine and his nephew, Arnulf of Reims, both of whom had sought to restore Carolingian rule.

The Synod of Reims and the Deposition of Arnulf (June 991)

After capturing both Charles of Lorraine and Archbishop Arnulf, Hugh Capet sought to eliminate the Carolingian presence from ecclesiastical and political power.

• In June 991, he convened a synod at Reims, composed of loyal French bishops, to formalize his control over the archbishopric.
• The synod obediently deposed Arnulf, citing his betrayal in supporting Charles of Lorraine against the Capetians.
• To replace him, the bishops elected Gerbert of Aurillac, one of the most brilliant scholars of the age and a staunch supporter of the Capetian cause.

Rome’s Rejection and the Summoning of an Imperial Synod

Despite Hugh’s efforts, Gerbert’s appointment faced strong opposition:

• Pope John XV refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Reims synod, declaring that a French royal council lacked authority to depose an archbishop without papal approval.
• The pope called for a second synod, held outside of Capetian territory, in the imperial city of Aachen, to reconsider Arnulf’s case.
• When the French bishops refused to attend, Pope John XV summoned them to Rome, demanding an independent ruling on Arnulf’s deposition.

French Defiance and the Struggle Over Church Authority

The Capetian-aligned bishops declined to travel to Rome, citing unsettled conditions on the route and political instability in the city. Their refusal underscored the growing tensions between the papacy and the emerging Capetian monarchy, as Hugh Capet sought to assert greater royal control over the French Church, a pattern that would continue throughout the medieval period.

Legacy: The Rise of Gerbert and Capetian-Papal Tensions

• Though Gerbert of Aurillac remained in Reims for a time, his position was not universally accepted, forcing him to later align with the Ottonians in the Holy Roman Empire.
• Arnulf, though deposed, still had support from Rome, reflecting the ongoing struggle between the pope and secular rulers over ecclesiastical appointments.
• This conflict over Reims foreshadowed later investiture struggles, as monarchs sought to secure loyal clergy while the papacy insisted on supremacy in Church matters.

Though Hugh Capet succeeded in neutralizing the Carolingian threat, his defiance of papal authority set an early precedent for Capetian involvement in ecclesiastical affairs, a dynamic that would shape French monarchy-church relations for centuries.