Robert (archbishop of Trier) facts for kids
Robert, also known as Ruotbert or Rotbert, was a very important church leader. He was the archbishop of Trier from 931 until he passed away on May 19, 956. An archbishop is a high-ranking bishop who leads a large area of churches. Robert was involved in the politics of both Germany and France. He was especially important in the region called Lotharingia, which was between these two kingdoms. Robert also supported smart people and writers. He helped improve many monasteries, which were places where monks lived and worked.
Early Life and Becoming Archbishop
Robert was likely born around the year 901. This is because he was probably about 30 years old when he became archbishop. Before this, he was already an important helper for the church in Trier. He was called the chancellor, meaning he managed many church affairs.
Robert came from the Batavian region. He might have been part of the Saxon noble family. His brother, Ansfried the elder, was a powerful count who ruled many areas. Robert was also said to be related to Bruno the Great, who was a member of the royal family. Some old records even said he was the brother of Queen Mathilda, but this is not believed anymore. Robert personally taught his nephew, Ansfried the younger, about law and religion. Ansfried later became a bishop himself.
Robert became archbishop around the end of 931. The previous archbishop, Rudgar, had died earlier that year. King Henry I of Germany helped Robert get this important position. Soon after, Robert was made the chief chancellor of Lotharingia. This was a very powerful job.
In 932, Robert worked with other archbishops, Unni of Hamburg and Hildebert of Mainz. They led a big meeting of bishops in Erfurt. At this meeting, they decided to stop paying money to Hungary. On August 7, 936, Robert, along with Archbishops Wigfried of Cologne and Hildebert of Mainz, crowned the new king, Otto I. This important event happened in the palace chapel at Aachen.
Robert's Role in Lotharingia
King Otto I continued to favor Robert. Robert remained the chief chancellor in Lotharingia from 937 to 953. He often spoke to the king on behalf of people from Lotharingia who needed help.
Robert's power in Lotharingia sometimes caused problems. He had a disagreement with Duke Conrad the Red. In 944, Conrad accused Robert of not being loyal to the king. Conrad even tried to take over the abbey of Saint-Maximin in Trier by force. This abbey was very important. King Otto's brother, Bruno, was being educated there. Robert had just opened the new church of Saint-Maximin in 942. In 950, Pope Agapetus II confirmed that Robert had the right to control Saint-Maximin.
In 946, Robert got the king to confirm his church's control over the basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht. This was one of the biggest and richest abbeys in Lotharingia. This decision finally ended a long argument. In 949, Robert attended a meeting of important leaders in Lotharingia with King Otto.
In 953, Duke Conrad rebelled against the king and lost his position. King Otto confirmed Robert's rights in Saint-Maximin again. At the same time, the archbishop position in Cologne became open. King Otto made his brother Bruno both the Archbishop of Cologne and the Duke of Lotharingia. Otto also took the Lotharingian chancellery away from Robert and gave it to Bruno. Even so, Robert attended the special ceremonies for Bruno and for Bishop Rather of Liège that year. However, in 955, Robert secretly worked with Count Reginar III to have Bishop Rather removed from his position.
Church Leader and Supporter of Learning
Robert was a careful leader of his church area. He worked hard to improve monasteries. Many of these monasteries were owned by regular people, not the church. Some, like Saint-Maximin in Trier, had been attacked by Vikings and Hungarians. Robert also reorganized the church system in his area, even down to the local churches.
He rebuilt the southern church of the cathedral area, which is now called the Liebfrauenkirche. He opened this church on September 9, 955. He also built an altar over the tomb of an earlier bishop, Magneric, in the abbey of Saint-Martin in Trier. Other church leaders at the time saw Robert as one of the most inspiring reformers in Lotharingia.
In 951, Robert went with King Otto on a trip to Italy. From Italy, he brought back some holy items from Saint Severus of Ravenna in 952.
Robert was also a very smart person and he supported other scholars. He wrote letters with Rather of Liège before their relationship became difficult. Rather said that Robert was interested in ancient Greek and Roman writings. Robert even sent some of his own writings to Rather. A scholar named Israel the Grammarian dedicated his book about poetry to Robert. Israel later became a monk at Saint-Maximin.
Another writer, Flodoard, dedicated his "History of the Church of Reims" to Robert. Flodoard also dedicated his collection of poems, "The Triumph of Christ," to Robert.
Robert passed away in Cologne during a widespread sickness in 956. His body was brought back to Trier. He was buried in his own Liebfrauenkirche, where his tomb was found in 1950.
