Aicard, Archbishop of Arles
Encyclopedia
Aicard of Marseilles was the Archbishop of Arles from 1070 to 1080 and again from 1107 to his death.
He was the son of Jaufre I, Viscount of Marseilles, and Rixendis of Millau. The vicecomital family of Marseilles were vassals of the Count of Provence and allies of the House of Baux
. The family had many possessions in and around Arles and offended many local families, like the Porcelet.
At the death of Archbishop Raimbaud in 1069, and following negotiations between the petty nobility
and the counts, the see of Arles fell to Aicard, sometime between 1069 and 1073, probably in 1070. In his first years of government, Aicard continued the policies of his predecessor: alliance with the counts and the Baux.
The elevation of Aicard, however, did not please Count Bertrand II of Provence
. Bernard felt threatened by the rising power of the house of Marseilles and by the exercise of archiepiscopal power over the abbey of Montmajour, which the counts had de facto appropriated as part of their demesne
, to act as a dynastic necropolis
. In the wider politico-ecclesiastical context of the time, in which Pope
and Emperor
fought the Investiture Controversy
for power over the dioceses of the Church, Aicard was a partisan of emperor against pope and the count, being a vassal of the emperor, was a natural ally of the pope. However that may have been, it is unlikely that the Controversy played a great role in the particular events which led to Aicard's expulsion from office.
Prompted by Bertrand, on 1 March 1079, Pope Gregory VII
wrote to the people and clergy of Arles asking them to choose a new, "suitable" bishop. However, the people, the clergy, the Baux, the Porcelet, and Count Raymond of Saint-Gilles
supported the archbishop. The city declared against the papal demand at the Council of Avignon
in 1080 and refused entry to Ghibbelin of Sabran
, the new papal appointee, who had the support of the count as well. From that point on, Aicard was officially deposed, but ruling as a usurper.
Aicard held the city for many years thereafter. When Pope Urban II
, the greatest of the Gregorian reform
ers after Gregory, travelled through Languedoc
and Provence
, visiting Montpellier
, Nîmes
, Saint-Gilles
, Tarascon
, Avignon
, Aix
, Cavaillon
, and other cities, preaching the First Crusade
at the Council of Clermont
in 1095, he had to avoid Arles, where the deposed bishop was still in power.
Between 1098 and 1099, however, Aicard probably relinquished his see to follow the Crusade. Ghibbelin appeared for the first time in Urban's papal bull
releasing the citizens of Arles from the penalties incurred in 1080. Aicard was in the Holy Land
from 1103 to 1105, where he joined Raymond of Saint-Gilles. He returned to Arles after Raymond's death and recuperated his diocese (1107) when Ghibbelin left as papal legate
to Palestine.
He was the son of Jaufre I, Viscount of Marseilles, and Rixendis of Millau. The vicecomital family of Marseilles were vassals of the Count of Provence and allies of the House of Baux
House of Baux
The House of Baux is a French noble family from the south of France. It was one of the most pretigious and powerful families of Medieval Provence, known as the 'Race d’Aiglon'. They were independent Lords as castellan of Les Baux and Arles and wielded very considerable authority at local level...
. The family had many possessions in and around Arles and offended many local families, like the Porcelet.
At the death of Archbishop Raimbaud in 1069, and following negotiations between the petty nobility
Petty nobility
Petty nobility is dated at least back to 13th century and was formed by Nobles/Knights around their strategic interests. The idea was more capable peasants with leader roles in local community that were given tax exemption for taking care of services like for example guard duties of local primitive...
and the counts, the see of Arles fell to Aicard, sometime between 1069 and 1073, probably in 1070. In his first years of government, Aicard continued the policies of his predecessor: alliance with the counts and the Baux.
The elevation of Aicard, however, did not please Count Bertrand II of Provence
William Bertrand of Provence
William Bertrand , known as William V or Bertrand I or II, was the count and margrave of Provence from 1051 to his death...
. Bernard felt threatened by the rising power of the house of Marseilles and by the exercise of archiepiscopal power over the abbey of Montmajour, which the counts had de facto appropriated as part of their demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
, to act as a dynastic necropolis
Necropolis
A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
. In the wider politico-ecclesiastical context of the time, in which Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
fought the Investiture Controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
for power over the dioceses of the Church, Aicard was a partisan of emperor against pope and the count, being a vassal of the emperor, was a natural ally of the pope. However that may have been, it is unlikely that the Controversy played a great role in the particular events which led to Aicard's expulsion from office.
Prompted by Bertrand, on 1 March 1079, Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
wrote to the people and clergy of Arles asking them to choose a new, "suitable" bishop. However, the people, the clergy, the Baux, the Porcelet, and Count Raymond of Saint-Gilles
Raymond IV of Toulouse
Raymond IV of Toulouse , sometimes called Raymond of St Gilles, was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Margrave of Provence and one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was a son of Pons of Toulouse and Almodis de La Marche...
supported the archbishop. The city declared against the papal demand at the Council of Avignon
Council of Avignon
Council of Avignon may refer to one of a number of councils of the Roman Catholic Church, held in Avignon.-Eleventh century:Nothing is known of the council held there in 1060....
in 1080 and refused entry to Ghibbelin of Sabran
Ghibbelin of Arles
Ghibbelin of Sabran was Archbishop of Arles , papal legate , and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem ....
, the new papal appointee, who had the support of the count as well. From that point on, Aicard was officially deposed, but ruling as a usurper.
Aicard held the city for many years thereafter. When Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
, the greatest of the Gregorian reform
Gregorian Reform
The Gregorian Reforms were a series of reforms initiated by Pope Gregory VII and the circle he formed in the papal curia, circa 1050–80, which dealt with the moral integrity and independence of the clergy...
ers after Gregory, travelled through Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, visiting Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, Saint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles, Gard
Saint-Gilles or Saint-Gilles-du-Gard is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It is the second most populous commune in the Nîmes metropolitan area.-Geography:...
, Tarascon
Tarascon
Tarascon , sometimes referred to as Tarascon-sur-Rhône, is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France.-Geography:...
, Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, Aix
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, Cavaillon
Cavaillon
Cavaillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The Calavon, a tributary of the Durance locally called Coulon, flows westward through the middle of the commune....
, and other cities, preaching the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
at the Council of Clermont
Council of Clermont
The Council of Clermont was a mixed synod of ecclesiastics and laymen of the Catholic Church, which was held from November 18 to November 28, 1095 at Clermont, France...
in 1095, he had to avoid Arles, where the deposed bishop was still in power.
Between 1098 and 1099, however, Aicard probably relinquished his see to follow the Crusade. Ghibbelin appeared for the first time in Urban's papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
releasing the citizens of Arles from the penalties incurred in 1080. Aicard was in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
from 1103 to 1105, where he joined Raymond of Saint-Gilles. He returned to Arles after Raymond's death and recuperated his diocese (1107) when Ghibbelin left as papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to Palestine.