in june 922, charles's domestic opponents declared him deposed, electing and crowning robert, count of paris, in his place. charles was forced to retreat with his supporters into lotharingia. ruotger, erstwhile archchancellor, does not appear to have attended charles's court there, for he is not mentioned in any further royal documents. it may be that he had gone over to robert, or else that he was already supporting a bid by henry the fowler for lotharingia. in june 923, robert was killed at the battle of soissons, but charles's was defeated and shortly afterwards captured. henry took the opportunity to invade lotharingia and besiege metz. by this time ruotger had clearly abandoned the king, for he was present with henry's army at the siege of metz. ruotger's support for henry carried with it that of the lotharingian church. by 925 the east frankish annexation was complete, and in 927 henry appointed ruotger as his lotharingian archchancellor.