Drogo

Early life and family

Drogo was born on 17 June 801 at Aachen, Gaul (Aix-La-Chappelle). The Annales Weissemburgenses record Drogo's birth as "802 aut 803 15 Kal Iul".

Aachen was the winter palace of the Carolingian Empire located in the north-east section of Gaul, close to the Saxon lands. This area is now in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Einhard names "Drogonem et Hugum" as sons of Charlemagne by his concubine "Reginam". Drogo's mother, Regina, was one of four concubines taken by Charlemagne in 800 after the death of his Alemannian wife who had borne him no children.

Drogo had many half-brothers and sisters (through his father, Charlemagne) but only one full brother, Hugh (802–844), who was the younger. He and his brother Hugh, and their half-brother Thierry, were brought up in the palace of their half-brother Louis the Pious (Emperor Louis I) after their father died.

In the collection of Einhard's Charters, there is one written in 815 by Louis the Pious in which he grants a village (Mulinheim, later Seligenstadt) situated on the banks of the Main River to Einhard and his wife. This property was once owned by a Count Drogo. This person could possibly be identified as Charlemagne's son Drogo, although he was only 14 years old in 815.

As one of the few children to outlive his father, Drogo's prospects for political power were very favourable. Only one older son of Charlemagne remained, and was eager to ensure his few opponents were placated.

Career

Forced out of the royal court when Louis the Pious became Emperor in 814, Drogo and Hugh were forcibly tonsured and "put under free custody into monasteries".

Drogo became a cleric in 818 and abbot of Luxeuil in 820.

In 822, Drogo, was installed as Bishop of Metz in 823. Drogo became less significant at court and as a court figure by 829 – he had no formal position and did not become a player again until the 830s.

Drogo wielded much influence in the last years of Louis the Pious’ reign. According to the Astronomer, Drogo was Louis the Pious’ daily confessor. It was Drogo who finally persuaded Louis to forgive his rebellious sons. Drogo became Archbishop of Metz in 844 and remained in this position for the duration of his life.

Drogo was asked by Louis, who was on his deathbed, to send the royal regalia (crown and sword) to his son Lothar thus indicating the transfer of power. Drogo took charge of his remains and had them transported from the island in the Rhine where he died. The Annales Fuldenses record that "Druogonem archicapellum et Adalbertum comitem" (Arch-chaplain Drogo and Count Adalbert) were sent to the east bank of the Rhine in 840 to take the body to Metz where Drogo presided over the funeral rites. The Sepulchre of Louis the Pious in St. Arnulf in Metz has often been considered as representative of the family tradition. Arnulf of Metz, mayor of the palace in Austrasia, is supposed to be the progenitor of the Carolingians (Arnulflings). But in fact, Saint-Arnulf of Metz was primarily a burial place for the women of the Carolingian family. Before or after Louis the Pious, no Carolingian king was buried there. One could instead see this sepulchre as a sign of archbishop Drogo's ambition of elevating his city of Metz by making it the cradle of the Carolingian family. In all probability he wished to establish Saint- Arnoul, whose patron saint was a family ancestor, as the royal mausoleum of the Carolingians (see K.U. Jaschke, Die Karolingergenealogien aus Metz, in list of sources).

In 844 following the election of Pope Sergius II, Drogo was sent by Emperor Lothar to accompany Louis to Rome. Drogo had just recently been raised from bishop to archbishop of Metz. He was appointed his Vicar apostolic for the Frankish lands of France and Germany by Sergius. Drogo also served as Vicar to Pope Leo IV and Benedict III in France.

Death

Drogo died on 8 December 855 after falling into the River Oignon, at Himeriacum, Bourgogne, while fishing. He is interred at the Abbey Church of St. Arnulf in Metz. A list of bishops of Metz records "domnus Drogo archiepiscopus et sacri palate summus capellanus, filius Karoli imperatoris" ("Drogo lord archbishop and sacred palace chief chaplain, son of Emperor Charles") as 40th bishop, holding the position for 32 years, 5 months, and 7 days. After his death, he was succeeded as bishop of Metz by Adventius (858 to 875).