He was the only bishop of Gaul to side with the pope who opposed Lothar II's decision to divorce his wife Teutberga in order to marry Waltrade of Wormsgau.
During Rotland's reign, the southern coast of France was plagued by Muslim pirates.
In a raid in Camargue in September 869, Rotland was captured as he was supervising the organisation of the region's defence.
The ransom was paid, but Rotland had died before he could be released, so the Saracens gave back his body, fully dressed and seated on a chair.
He was buried on 22 September 869 in the crypt of Notre-Dame des Grâces in Arles, between the sarcophagi of saints Genesius and Concordius.