Ansegisus (Archbishop of Sens)

Ansegisus

Archbishop of Sens; d. 25 November 879, or 883. He was a Benedictine monk, Abbot of St. Michael's, at Beauvais, and in 871 became Archbishop of Sens. After Charles the Bald was crowned Emperor by Pope John VIII, he asked the Pope to appoint Ansegisus papal legate and primate over Gaul and Germany. With a papal legate of French nationality, amicably disposed towards the Emperor, Charles the Bald thought he could more easily extend his influence as emperor over those countries. The Pope yielded to the wish of Charles but when the bishops assembled at the Synod Ponthion were asked to acknowledge the primacy of Ansegisus they protested, especially Hinemar, Archbishop of Reims, against what they considered an infringement on their rights. Though Ansegisus retained the title, it is doubtful whether he ever exercised the powers of Primate of France and Germany.

SCHMID in Kirchenlex., I, 886; HEFELE, Conciliengesch., IV, 516 sqq.; GFROERER, Geschichte der Carolinger (Freiburg, 1848), II, 130 sqq.

MICHAEL OTT