Gender and hierarchy: Archbishop Hincmar of Rheims (845–882) as a religious man
Rachel Stone|Karoki Lewis|Pat Cullum
In 881 the clerics and laity of city Beauvais in Picardy were electing a new bishop. had long been vulnerable to attacks by Vikings on Carolingian Empire. The was burned raiders early 850s; 859 previous bishop, Ermenfrid, killed Danes. archbishop province which diocese lay, Hincmar Rheims, sent citizens letter about election, advising them procedure they should follow qualifications look for. hincmar is clear that right sort man has be chosen: Let him not approved who no dignity birth nor morals, or he held bound hereditary other condition. No neophyte from laity, newly tonsured without discipline, promoted ecclesiastical grades at constituted times. This we therefore specially designate, since when canons say: ‘Let one ordained laity’, show this does refer all laymen. For cannot born made [from those are already clerics], but varieties ( genera ) designated [laymen] attain clerical office. goes list unsuitable types men, including soldiers, have done public penance, married twice illiterate.
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