King Lothar II & Queen Teutberga: The Medieval Divorce That Defined Papal Authority Over Marriage
He spent 11 years trying to divorce her. The Pope said no. He died trying.
Key Facts
What Happened
The divorce saga of King Lothar II of Lotharingia and Queen Teutberga was the first great royal divorce scandal of the medieval era, raging from 858 to 869. Lothar had been forced by his father to marry Teutberga for political reasons, but he was in love with his mistress Waldrada, with whom he had several children. Almost immediately after becoming king, Lothar began scheming to rid himself of Teutberga and legitimize Waldrada as his queen.
Lothar's strategy was to accuse Teutberga of incest with her brother Hubert — an allegation she was forced to 'prove' her innocence of through a trial by ordeal (her champion had to survive being submerged in boiling water). She survived the ordeal, establishing her innocence, but Lothar persisted. He convened local church councils that obediently granted the divorce and permitted his remarriage to Waldrada. Archbishop Hincmar of Reims wrote an enormous treatise, 'De divortio,' arguing against the divorce's validity.
Pope Nicholas I intervened decisively. In 863, he annulled the local church councils' decisions, reinstated Teutberga as queen, and excommunicated Waldrada. When the archbishops of Cologne and Trier arrived in Rome to argue Lothar's case, the Pope deposed them both. It was a breathtaking assertion of papal authority over secular rulers' marriages — and it worked. Lothar was forced to take Teutberga back as his queen, though he continued lobbying the papacy for a divorce for the rest of his life.
Lothar died in 869, still married to Teutberga, likely of malaria contracted during yet another trip to Rome to petition the Pope. His kingdom, Lotharingia, was divided between his uncles Charles the Bald and Louis the German — the very outcome Lothar's lack of a legitimate heir had made possible. The case established a precedent that would shape European marriage law for centuries: even kings had to answer to the Church on matters of marriage. This principle would not be seriously challenged until Henry VIII's break with Rome nearly seven centuries later.
Legal Breakdown: When an outside authority has veto power over your divorce
Third-Party Veto Power Over Divorce
Lothar's inability to divorce despite being a king illustrates how third-party authority can block marital dissolution. While the Pope's role has diminished in civil divorce, some modern parallels exist: religious communities may withhold religious divorce (like the Jewish 'get'), and in some countries, religious courts still control marriage dissolution. Understanding the difference between civil and religious divorce is essential.
Fabricated Grounds and Due Process
Lothar's accusation of incest against Teutberga was almost certainly fabricated, and the 'trial by ordeal' was a form of divine justice with no evidentiary value. Modern family law requires actual evidence to support allegations, and due process protections ensure that both parties can challenge claims in court. Fabricating grounds for divorce carries legal consequences.
The Political Stakes of Divorce
Lothar's failed divorce had enormous geopolitical consequences — his kingdom ceased to exist because he had no legitimate heir. While modern divorces rarely affect national borders, they can have significant implications for family businesses, inherited wealth, political careers, and community standing. Understanding the broader stakes of divorce is important for strategic planning.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If religious authority affects your divorce, understand the difference between civil and religious dissolution
- →Fabricating allegations against a spouse can backfire catastrophically
- →Some divorces have stakes that extend far beyond the two parties — plan accordingly
- →Persistence does not guarantee success if the legal system is against you — sometimes accepting reality is wiser
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.