Gottschalk of Orbais 848/849: condemned twice for his doctrine of predestination, flogged and imprisoned until his death

The monk Gottschalk taught a double predestination (God predestines some to salvation and others to damnation), based on Augustine. The Synod of Mainz condemned him as a heretic in 848 and had him beaten. The Synod of Quierzy in 849 under Archbishop Hincmar of Reims condemned him again, degraded him from the priesthood, had him whipped, forced him to burn his writings with his own hand and imprisoned him for life in the monastery of Hautvillers. When he fell ill, Hincmar refused him the sacraments and church burial unless he recanted. He did not recant and died in confinement between 866 and 870.

Period

848-870 (22 years)

Country

Germany, France

Institutions

Synod of Mainz 848
Synod of Quierzy 849
Hrabanus Maurus
Hincmar of Reims
Abbey of Hautvillers

Category

Torture, Heresy trials, Censorship

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Persons

Gottschalk of Orbais (monk and theologian, flogged and imprisoned until his death)
Hincmar of Reims (archbishop, brought about the condemnation at Quierzy and kept Gottschalk imprisoned)
Hrabanus Maurus (Archbishop of Mainz, opponent of Gottschalk)

Background

Course of events

1. Gottschalk was born around 808 near Mainz and devoted to monastic life by his parents from infancy (Fulda, later Orbais in the diocese of Soissons). Through the study of Augustine he arrived at the doctrine of absolute predestination: God predestines some to salvation and others to damnation. Hrabanus Maurus, his former abbot and now Archbishop of Mainz, had him driven from Italy.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Gottschalk

   „German theologian, was born near Mainz, and was devoted ( oblatus ) from infancy by his parents“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Gottschalk

   „Gottschalk believing in a predestination to condemnation as well as in a predestination to salvation“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Gottschalk

   „Driven from Italy through the influence of Hrabanus Maurus, now archbishop of Mainz“

Response of the Church

1. Gottschalk held to his doctrine in confinement. Several bishops and theologians wrote in his favour, among them Prudentius of Troyes and Ratramnus of Corbie. Pope Nicholas I took up the case and summoned Hincmar to the Council of Metz in 863; Hincmar did not appear, and nothing came of it. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, scholars today are inclined to interpret Gottschalk's teaching in an orthodox sense.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Gottschalk

   „Prudentius, bishop of Troyes, Wenilo of Sens, Ratramnus of Corbie, Loup of Ferrières and Florus of Lyons wrote in his favour.“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Gottschalk

   „Finally the pope Nicolas I. took up the case, and summoned Hincmar to the council of Metz (863). Hincmar either could not or would not appear“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 12 (1911), Artikel Predestinarianism, Abschnitt Lucidus and Gottschalk

   „At the present time, however, scholars, because of two extant professions of faith“

See also

• 380-385 · 5 years

  Execution of Priscillian in 385, the first execution of Christians for heresy, on the accusation of bishops

  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
• 1022 · less than 1 year

  Orléans 1022: a council condemned thirteen clerics and laymen as heretics, and King Robert had them burned alive

  • France
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 12 (1911): Predestinarianism, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Gottschalk, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 23 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.