Charles (archbishop of Mainz) facts for kids
Charles was a son of Pepin I of Aquitaine, a king in the early Middle Ages. He was born around 825 or 830 and died on June 4, 863. His mother was Engelberga.
Charles grew up at the court of his uncle, Lothair. In 848, he heard that his brother had lost his power in Aquitaine. So, in March 849, Charles gathered some followers. He wanted to claim the kingdom of Aquitaine for himself.
Early Challenges
However, Charles's attempt to become king did not go as planned. He was captured by Vivian, who was the count of Maine. This happened near the Loire River. After his capture, Charles was sent to his cousin, Charles the Bald.
Life in the Monastery
Charles the Bald decided to send Charles to a monastery. He was placed in the Corbie monastery. There, he was made to live as either a monk or a deacon. This meant he would dedicate his life to the church.
A New Path
In 854, Charles managed to escape from the monastery. He tried to gather an army to help his brother. But he didn't have much luck. His plan to raise an army was not successful.
Becoming an Archbishop
After his failed attempt to raise an army, Charles went to the court of Louis the German. Louis the German was a powerful king. On March 8, 856, Louis the German gave Charles an important new role. Charles became the Archbishop of Mainz. He also became an archchancellor, which was a high-ranking official.
As an archbishop, Charles was a respected leader. He served in this important church position until his death. Charles died on June 4, 863. He was buried in St. Alban's Abbey, Mainz.
Sources
- Dictionnaire de Biographie Française. Roman d'Amat and R. Limousin-Lamothe (ed). Paris, 1967.
