Editing Robert II of France (section)

===The episcopal hierarchy, the King's first support===
====Robert II directs the religious affairs====
Crowned as Junior King, Robert II had begun to take on active royal duties with his father, as evidenced by his ''signum'' at the bottom of certain acts of Hugh Capet. From 990, all the acts have its inscription. In the written acts: "Robert, very glorious king" as underlined by a charter for [[Corbie]] (April 988) or even "''filii nostri Rotberti regis ac consortis regni nostri''" in a charter for Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (June 989).{{sfn|Bautier|1992|pp=31, 35}} On the strength of his instruction received from Gerbert of Aurillac, his task, initially, was to preside over episcopal synods:

{{blockquote|author=Richer of Reims, ca. 990.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=57}}|"He [Robert II] attended synods of bishops to discuss ecclesiastical affairs with them."}}

Unlike the last Carolingians, the first Capetians attached a clan of bishops to the north-east of Paris ([[Amiens]], [[Laon]], [[Soissons]], [[Châlons-en-Champagne|Châlons]], etc.) whose support was decisive in the course of events. In one of their diplomas, the two kings appear as intermediaries between the clerics and the people (''mediatores et plebis'') and, under the pen of Gerbert of Aurillac, the bishops insisted on this need for ''consilium'': "...not wanting anything abuse the royal power, we decide all the affairs of the ''res publica'' by resorting to the advice and sentences of our faithful".{{sfn|Sassier|2000|pp=200–205}} Hugh Capet and Robert II needed the support of the Church to further consolidate their legitimacy, and also because the contingents of horsemen who made up the royal army came largely from the bishoprics.{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=28}} Robert II already appeared in the eyes of his contemporaries as a pious sovereign (hence his nickname) and close to the Church for several reasons: he devoted himself to the liberal arts; he was present at the synods of bishops; Abbo of Fleury specially dedicated his canonical collection to him; he easily forgave his enemies; and the abbeys received many royal gifts. He sent Ulric, bishop of Orleans, on an embassy to [[Constantine VIII|Emperor Constantine VIII]] and received the gift of a piece of the true cross along with silken hangings.{{sfn|Angold|2002|p=22}}

====Charles de Lorraine seizes Laon (988–991)====
Precisely, Hugh Capet and Robert II relied on the contingents sent by the bishoprics since the city of [[Laon]] had just been stormed by [[Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine|Charles of Lorraine]], the last [[Carolingian]] pretender to the throne. The sovereigns besieged the city twice, without result.{{efn|In his chronicle, Richer of Reims speaks of ''reges'' (kings in the plural).{{sfn|Bautier|1992|p=35}}{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=32}}}} Concerned about his failure in Laon, Hugh Capet contacted several sovereigns to obtain their help ([[Pope John XV]], Empress [[Theophanu]], mother and Regent on behalf of [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Otto III]]), in vain. After the death of Archbishop Adalbero of Reims (24 January 989), Hugh Capet decided to elect, as new archbishop, the Carolingian [[Arnulf (archbishop of Reims)|Arnoul]], an illegitimate son of King Lothair, rather than Gerbert of Aurillac. It is believed that this was to appease the supporters of the Carolingians, but the situation turned against the Capetians when Arnoul surrendered [[Reims]] to his uncle Charles.{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=32}}

The situation was unblocked thanks to the betrayal of [[Adalberon (bishop of Laon)|Ascelin, Bishop of Laon]], who seized Charles and Arnoul during their sleep and delivered them to the King (991): the Bishop thus saved the Capetian royalty ''in extremis''. In the Council of Saint-Basle de [[Verzy]], Arnoul was judged as a traitor by an assembly chaired by Robert II (June 991). Despite the protests of Abbon of Fleury, Arnoul was deposed. A few days later, Gerbert of Aurillac was appointed Archbishop of Reims with the support of his former pupil Robert II. Pope John XV did not accept this procedure and wanted to convene a new council in [[Aix-la-Chapelle]], but the bishops confirmed their decision in [[Chelles, Seine-et-Marne|Chelles]] (winter 993–994).{{sfn|Theis|1999|pp=67–74}}{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=33}}

====Gerbert and Ascelin: two figures of disloyalty====
When his master Adalbero of Reims died, Gerbert of Aurillac was obliged to follow the intrigues of the new archbishop Arnoul, determined to deliver Reims to Charles of Lorraine. Although the documentation is very incomplete on this subject, it seems that the scholar subsequently changed his positions to become Charles's supporter:

{{blockquote|author=Gerbert of Aurillac, ''Letters'', 990.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=65}}|"Lothair ''Augustus''{{'}}s brother, heir to the throne, was expelled from it. His competitors, [Hugh Capet and Robert II], many people think, received the interim of the reign. By what right has the legitimate heir been disinherited?."}}

A doubt in legitimacy was thus settled on the reign of both Hugh Capet and Robert II. However Gerbert, seeing the situation change to the detriment of Charles of Lorraine, changed sides during the year 991. Having become Archbishop of Reims by the grace of Robert II, he testified:

{{blockquote|author=Gerbert of Aurillac, ''Letters'', 991.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=74}}|"With the consent of the two princes, Lord Hugh ''Augustus'' and the excellent King Robert [Hugh Capet and Robert II]."}}

As for Ascelin, Bishop of Laon, after having served the crown by betraying Charles and Arnoul, he soon turned against the Capetians. In the spring of 993, he allied with Count [[Odo I, Count of Blois|Odo I of Blois]] to plan the capture of Hugh Capet and Robert II, in agreement with Emperor Otto III. If they succeeded, [[Louis of Lower Lorraine|Louis]] (the son of Charles of Lorraine) would become King of the Franks, Odo I Duke of the Franks, and Ascelin Bishop of Reims. However, the plot was denounced and Ascelin was placed under house arrest.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=76}}