Balthild
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Balthild | |
|---|---|
 Statue of St. Bathilde, Queen of the Franks |
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| Born | 626 or 627 |
| Died | January 30, 680 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | c. 880 by Pope Nicholas I |
| Major shrine | Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris |
| Feast | |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint Balthild, also known as Bathilde d'Ascagnie, Batilde, Bathylle, Bathild, or Bathilda (626 or 627 – January 30, 680), was the wife and queen of Clovis II, king of Burgundy and Neustria (639 – 658). Her name comes from Old English and means "bold battle".
An Anglo-Saxon, perhaps a relative of King Ricbert of East Anglia, the last pagan king there, she was sold into slavery as a young girl (some accounts suggest by Vikings, others by the Anglo-Saxon king), the young Balthild served as a lady in waiting in the household of Erchinoald, Clovis' mayor of the palace. Balthild was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and attentive to the needs of others. Erchinoald (whose wife had died) was attracted to Balthild and wanted to marry her. But she did not want to marry him: she hid herself away and waited until Erchinoald remarried. Next, King Clovis noticed her and asked her hand in marriage sometime in 649. Balthild was nineteen when she became queen. Different versions of this story suggest Clovis was somewhere between the ages of twelve and sixteen at the time.
Even as queen, she remained humble and modest. She is famous for her charitable service and generous donations. From her donations, the abbeys of Corbie and Chelles were founded (and likely others such as those of Jumièges, Jouarre, and Luxeuil). She bore her husband three children, all who became kings: Clotaire, Childeric, and Theuderic.
When Balthild's husband died between 655 and 658, Clotaire, the eldest son and heir to the throne, became succeeded at age five. Balthild served as the queen regent until he came of age in 664, when she was forced into a convent. As queen, she was a capable stateswoman. She abolished the practice of trading Christian slaves and even sought the freedom of children sold into slavery. As the story goes, after Balthild's three children were of age and "established in their respective territories" (Clotaire in Neustria, Childeric in Austrasia, and perhaps Theuderic in Burgundy), Balthild entered the abbey and gave up her royal rank. She dedicated the rest of her life serving the poor and the infirm.
Balthild died on January 30, 680. She is buried at her foundation, the Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris. Her Vita was first written soon after her death, probably by one of the community of Chelles. The Vita Baldechildis/Vita Bathildis reginae Francorum in Monumenta Germania Historica, Scriptores Rerum Merovincarum 2, like most of the vitae of royal Merovingian-era saints, provides some useful details for the historian. Her official cult began at the time her remains were transferred from the former abbey to a new church, in 833, under the auspices of Louis the Pious. Balthild was canonised by Pope Nicholas I about 200 years after her death.
