Battling Your Allies

King Louis VII of France was thrust into the spotlight in his late teens. Intended for the Church, he became his father's successor when his older brother died in 1131. He was quickly anointed as the heir apparent, got a young wife who brought with her a large province, and then became king when his father, Louis VI, died a week after the wedding.

He might have eased himself into kingship, but he immediately began to make some bold decisions. There were a few uprisings by the free citizens of Orléans and Poitiers, who wished to organize communes, taking on responsibility locally for some rules and regulations (instead of heeding solely the centralized authority from the Crown). This was the way much of Europe was going, but Louis wanted to keep control.

The archbishopric of Bourges became vacant at the death in 1141 of Alberich of Reims, who had been a student of Anselm of Laon and had instigated charges against Peter Abelard. Louis wanted to name his chancellor, Cadurc, to the post. Pope Innocent II, who had not many years earlier been the one to anoint Louis as king, nominated Pierre de la Chatre. Louis asserted himself, vowing on holy relics that Pierre would never enter Bourges so long as Louis lived. This was the wrong way to start your relationship as king with the pope. Innocent placed Louis under interdict, prohibiting Louis from participation in the Liturgy and the sacraments. (Pierre became Archbishop from 1141 to 1171.)

Louis was asked by his seneschal, Raoul I of Vermandois, to be allowed to divorce his wife and marry Petronilla, the sister of Louis' wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Louis gave his permission; it would tie Raoul more closely to Louis' circle. Unfortunately, Raoul's first wife was the sister of the powerful Count Theobald II of Champagne, son of Stephen II of Blois and Adela of Normandy (daughter of William the Conqueror). The war that ensued between Champagne and Louis lasted two years (1142-44) and led to Louis' army occupying Champagne and the death of 1500 in the burning by Louis of a church in Vitry-en-Perthois. (In the future, Theobald's daughter would become Louis' third wife.)

The Church condemned Louis' actions vehemently. Louis returned Champagne to Theobald, accepted Pierre as archbishop, shunned Raoul and Petronilla, and vowed to go on Crusade to atone for his sins.

Eleanor went on Crusade with him, and cracks in the marriage became apparent. Let's talk about that next time.