medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: Ms B M Cook <[log in to unmask]>
>the French kings were "sacred" (p.p. of the verb "to sacre", which verb is
obsolete) by the archbishop of Reims (by no means all, but most)
from Merovingian times, i believe (Clovis) and the Usual Place for such
Oilings, unless the monarchy was under unusual stress.
perhaps the last time this happened was when the twice-excommunicated Philip I
died in Orleans(?) in 1108 and Louis (VI), who had been associated as co-king
since 1098 was hastilly sacrated at Orleans to help insure that the unstable
political situation didn't lead to the collapse of the dynasty itself.
when Louis' eldest son, the consecrated co-king Philip, was killed in a riding
accident in 1131, he took advantage of the coincidental council being held at
Reims under Innocent II and took his second son, Louis (VII), to be Oiled Up
there as well.
the situation in 1131 was only marginally more stable than that of 1108 (there
had been a near civil war in the late '20s and things were still pretty Hot),
and Louis wanted to call up as much Ju-Ju as possible to surround this
unexpected --and dangerous-- catastrophe from harming the still-shakey
dynasty.
choosing the traditional site, Reims, for the Deed and conveniently present
Innocent II for the Act (though i can't recall whether he actually did the
Oiling himself or only witnessed the Archbishop of Reims doing it) was a
Natural fit.
far as i know all the subsequent Capetians/Valoises/Bourbons were crowned at
Reims --though there might have been one or two who weren't, during the
Hundred Year's War, etc.
c
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