Boris Akunin: “Once again about love”

“King Robert the Pious was famous for his devout piety and eschewed carnal pleasures. But at twenty-two, the august faster met Bertha, the wife of the Count of Blois, and fell in love for life. The countess already had five children and by the standards of that time was not young (27 years old).. At first, he declared war on the Count of Blois in order to save his beloved from her husband. The Count very conveniently died his own death... but there was no happy ending... Robert and Bertha were second cousins. Therefore, the Pope did not give permission for the marriage. The king suddenly lost all piety. Putting his throne, his life, even the salvation of his soul at stake, he disobeyed his holiness. In response, the pope excommunicated Robert from the church.