Henry of France, Archbishop of Reims facts for kids
Henry of France (born around 1121 – died November 13, 1175) was an important church leader in France. He was the third son of King Louis VI of France and Adelaide of Maurienne. Henry first served as the bishop of Beauvais from 1149 to 1161. Later, he became the archbishop of Reims from 1161 until his death in 1175.
Early Life & Church Path
As a king's son, Henry was expected to join the church from a young age. When he was thirteen, his head was shaved in a special ceremony called a tonsure, marking his entry into church life. Two years later, he was ordained, becoming a priest.
Henry moved up through the church ranks. He became the head, or abbot, of several important monasteries. These positions were given to him by the King, likely to prepare him for a very high role in the church.
In 1146, something big changed for Henry. He met Bernard of Clairvaux, a famous saint. Henry decided to leave his rich life as a church official and join Clairvaux Abbey as a simple monk. Even Pope Eugenius III mentioned in 1147 that Henry was humbly washing dishes at Clairvaux. His younger brother, Philip, took over his old church positions.
Bishop of Beauvais
In 1149, the bishop of Beauvais passed away. The church leaders, called the cathedral chapter, chose Henry to be their new bishop. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux had convinced them to pick him.
However, Henry was not ready for the political challenges of being a bishop. He soon had disagreements with the townspeople, known as burghers. King Louis, Henry's brother, supported the town. Henry, though, was backed by his younger brother, Robert, who was a count. Pope Eugenius III helped settle this disagreement in 1151.
Archbishop of Reims
In 1161, Henry became the Archbishop of Reims, a very important church position. Bartholomew of Montcornet took his place as bishop in Beauvais.
As Archbishop, Henry organized a major church meeting, or council, in Reims in 1164. Again, he faced problems with the people of his city. But this time, his brother, King Louis, supported him. The conflict was resolved, and Archbishop Henry focused on making Reims more beautiful and stronger. He even built castles in Septsaulx and Cormicy to protect the city.
Images for kids
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Henry from a 14th-century miniature
