Bernard was bold, ambitious, vain, imperious, and restless.

He removed his rivals from court, and put in their places his own creatures.

He was accused not only of abusing the emperor's favor, but even of carrying on a guilty intrigue with the Empress Judith.

There grew up against him, and, by consequence, against the emperor, the empress, and their youngest son a powerful opposition, in which certain ecclesiastics, and, amongst them, Wala, abbot of Corbie, cousin-german and but lately one of the privy counsellors of Charlemagne, joined eagerly.

Some had at heart the unity of the empire, which Louis was breaking up more and more; others were concerned for the spiritual interests of the Church which Louis, in spite of his piety and by reason of his weakness, often permitted to be attacked.