12 HISTORY OF FR A MCE. [chap. princes. Charles was overthrown at Laon, but when Hugh strove to enforce his claims in Aquitaine, and in 990 laid siege to Poitiers, he was driven back by Duke William Fer-d-bras after a fierce battle on the banks of the Loire, and never mastered that country. When the Count of Perigord had leagued with Fulk Nerra or the Black, Count of Atijou, against the Count of Blois, and was besieging Tows, and he refused to attend to the king's command, he replied to Hugh's demand, "Who made thee a count?" with, " Who made thee a king ? " In eftect the only way in which the kingly authority could be enforced was by siding with one set of vassals against another, or by balancing the interests of clergy and burghers against those of the nobles — a policy which prevailed in the long run, but which required a very able man to carry it out. Hugh Capet was a man of much less mark than his uncrowned father. He did nothing to check the lawless warfare between all the counts and barons around him ; as indeed he had neither the means nor the ability to form such means. He was devout, and was sometimes called a king of priests. In truth the clergy were almost the only persons with any notions beyond the pettiest ambition and private strife ; and a king who had a turn for better things, yet had not force of character to mould and train his nobles, could not but lean chiefly on his clergy. 3. Robert II. 996. — But when Robert II. succeeded his father as sole king, in 996, he was not only a king of priests, but a king of beggars. A mild, gentle, pious, man, hating violence, highly educated in the learning of the time, and of artistic and poetical tastes, his refuge was with the monks of St. Denys, whose guardian he was as Count of Paris. With them he sung in the choir, and for them composed Latin hymns, copies of which he laid on the altar of St. Peter's when he made a pil- grimage to Rome. Some arc still in use. He was very charitable, and the poor flocked about him. He fed and clothed them, but knew not how to check the violence that made them beggars, and rendered the shortest journey perilous. In spite of his piety, he fell into trouble with the Pope, by his m-.rriage with Bertha, daughter to Conrad II., king of Aries and widow of the Count of Blois. Her brother, Rodolf, was childless, and was obliged to sell his rights to the Emperor Otho III., lest Robert or his children should assert a claim through her
