Askericus

Askericus (or Anscharic) (French: Anschéric) (died c. 890) was the Bishop of Paris from 886 until his death. He replaced Bishop Joscelin when the latter died during the Siege of Paris on 16 April 886. He and Count Odo led the defences of the city after Joscelin's death.

Askericus came from a family prominent in the Île-de-France and in the wars with the Vikings. Askericus was probably related to the Counts of Vermandois. His brother Tetbert, Count of Meaux, was killed fighting the Vikings in 888. Askericus was at the court of Charles the Fat and was present at the 20 May 885 coronation of Charles' as rex in Gallia. He came with Charles' to Paris, probably as bishop-elect, and was installed as bishop by the king in the city in Autumn. In 887, it was he who went to Kirchen to collect the ransom owed the Vikings for relieving their siege.

Possible (unproven) relations

It may also be possible, while unsourced, that the archbishop of Paris were somehow related to Anscar I of Ivrea, founder of the Anscarids dynasty ruling, in later times and through different branches, in Italy, Burgundy, Galicia, Spain. Anscar's brother was the powerful archbishop of Reims, Fulk (archbishop of Reims). The hypothesis of a family relation is obviously highly speculative, and based only on the names' similarity, on one hand, considering these were often repeated in subsequent generations, and the holding of such high ranks in the church during the same time frame. It should also be noted that Baldwin II of Flanders during the chaotic conflicts for power of time murdered both Fulk of Reims and Herbert I of Vermandois. The latter came from the same family that was likely related to bishop Askericus/Anscharicus.

Sources

• MacLean, Simon. Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the end of the Carolingian Empire. Cambridge University Press: 2003.