ruotger was born to a noble family, probably in lotharingia, possibly from the region north of metz, around thionville. he had a brother named beroald, a layman, who was accused by eberwin of tholey a century later of having usurped the abbey of saint martin in trier after the death of abbot regino. he also had a wealthy niece in the rizzigau. nothing is known of ruotger's life before his elevation to the archdiocese in 915. his predecessor, radbod, died on 30 march that year. it is probable that ruotger was chosen as his successor in a free election by the cathedral chapter, since in 928 the church had been granted that privilege by king charles the straightforward. nonetheless, it is probable that the choice of ruotger was in conformity with the king's wishes, since trier was at the time the chief city of lotharingia, which had only been joined to charles's kingdom in 911.