Modern History Sourcebook:
Richer: The Election of Hugh Capet, 987
Meanwhile, at the appointed time the magnates of Gaul who had taken the oath came
together at Senlis. When they had all taken their places in the assembly and the duke
[Hugh Capet] had given the sign, the archbishop [Adalbero] spoke to them as follows: AKing
Louis, of divine memory, having been removed from the world, and having left no heirs, it
devolves upon us to take serious counsel as to the choice of a successor, so that the
state may not suffer any injury through neglect and the lack of a leader. On a former
occasion we thought it advisable to postpone that deliberation in order that each of you
might be able to come here and, in the presence of the assembly, voice the sentiment which
God should have inspired in you, and that from all these different expressions of opinion
we might be able to find out what is the general will. Here we are assembled. Let us see
to it, by our prudence and honor, that hatred shall not destroy reason, that love shall
not interfere with truth. We are aware that Charles [Charles of Lower Lorraine] has his
partisans who claim that the throne belongs to him by right of birth. But if we look into
the matter, the throne is not acquired by hereditary right, and no one ought to be placed
at the head of the kingdom unless he is distinguished, not only by nobility of body, but
also by strength of mind---only such a one as honor and generosity recommend. We read in
the annals of rulers of illustrious descent who were deposed on account of their
unworthiness and replaced by others of the same, or even lesser, rank.
"What dignity shall we gain by making Charles king? He is not guided by honor, nor
is he possessed of strength. Then, too, he has compromised himself so far as to have
become the dependent of a foreign king and to have married a girl taken from among his own
vassals. How could the great duke endure that a woman of the low rank of vassal should
become queen and rule over him? How could he tender services to this woman, when his
equals, and even his superiors in birth bend the knee before him and place their hands
under his feet? Think of this seriously and you will see that Charles must be rejected for
his own faults rather than on account of any wrong done by others. Make a decision,
therefore, for the welfare rather than for the injury of the state. If you wish ill to
your country, choose Charles to be king; if you have regard for its prosperity, choose
Hugh, the illustrious duke. . . . Elect, then, the duke, a man who is recommended by his
conduct, by his nobility, and by his military following. In him you will find a defender,
not only of the state, but also of your private interests. His large-heartedness will make
him a father to you all. Who has ever fled to him for protection without receiving it? Who
that has been deserted by his friends has he ever failed to restore to his rights?"
This speech was applauded and concurred in by all, and by unanimous consent the duke
was raised to the throne. He was crowned at Noyon on the first of June by the archbishop
and the other bishops as king of the Gauls, the Bretons, the Normans, the Aquitanians, the
Goths, the Spaniards and the Gascons. Surrounded by the nobles of the king, he issued
decrees and made laws according to royal custom, judging and disposing of all matters with
success.
Source:
Frederic Austin Ogg, ed., A Source Book of Mediaeval History: Documents Illustrative
of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance, (New
York, 1907, reprinted by Cooper Square Publishers (New York), 1972), pp. 178-180.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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