Walbert IV | |
---|---|
Born | Walbert IV Pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia Francia |
Died | c. 640-646 Cousolre, Pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
Feast | 11 May |
Saint Walbert IV(French : Sainte Walbert IV) (died c. 640-646 AD), also known as Vaubert, Waubert, or Waudbert was a Merovingian Count of Hainaut and a Frankish saint. He was the father of Saint Waltrude (wife of Madelgaire), and Saint Aldegund, first abbess of Maubeuge. [1]
Walbert IV was born in the pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia (now Hainaut Province, Belgium).
St. Walbert of Hainaut came from a direct line of descent from Auberon, son of Clodio, King of the Franks. [2] His great-grandfather was Walbert I. [3]
His parents were Walbert III and Amalberge of Landen, daughter of Carloman. [4] Saint Walbert's uncle on his mother's side was Pepin of Landen. He was a relative of Saint Gertrude. [5] Walbert IV's grandfather, Charles de Hasbaye V, fathered Veraye, who married Aymon, Count of Ardennes, and became the mother of the four sons of Aymon. [5]
He was one of four children: Walbert IV, Brunulphe I, Count of the Adrennes, St. Amalberga, and Vraye. [6] Walbert IV, married to Princess Bertille of Thuringia, daughter of the King of Thuringia, had two daughters: Saint Waltrude, Princess of Ardennes and Countess of Hainaut, wife of Madelgaire, and Saint Aldegund, first abbess of Maubeuge. [1] His brother Brunulphe I, Count of the Adrennes's wife was Vraye, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy with whom he had two daughters: Saint Aye (heiress of the County of Hainaut after Saint Waltrude) and Clotilde (wife of Sigilfe or Sigilfus). [7] [8] Walbert IV's uncle, Brunulphe, counted Saint Hydulphe, later married to Saint Aye, among his children. [8]
Walbert IV served first in the royal court of King Clotaire II and later under his son, Dagobert I, during both their reigns. [5] During his youth, he resided in the royal court of Clotaire II as a domesticus [9] (and later regent), then withdrew to his lands and settled in the castle of Cousolre, constructed by his ancestors. [10] Coursolre Castle was part farm, part palace. Waltrude and Aldetrude, his daughters, were born at that location. [11] His father had become a monk, leaving behind his estates. [10] He became a lord of Lower Austrasia, whose duchy covered Cambrésis, Hainaut, Brabant, Hesbaye, Ardennes, and extended to the Rhine. [12] [13]
In Cousolre, Walbert and Bertille built a church and a monastery dedicated to Notre-Dame, erected in the 7th century. [14]
Saint Walbert IV died around c. 640-646 AD in Cousolre, pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia (now Belgium). [1]
After Walbert's death, his son-in-law Vincent Madelgarius governed as Count of Hainaut alongside his daughter Saint Waltrude, Countess of Hainaut. [15] Saint Bertille died a few years later and was buried alongside her husband in Cousolre, where their daughter was later interred. [16] After Walbert and Bertille were canonized, Cousolre became a renowned pilgrimage site, attracting even Charlemagne. [17] Hubert of Liège, during the Carolingian Dynasty, raised Saint Walbert and Saint Bertille, before elevating their daughter, Saint Waltrude, in Charlemagne's presence. Waltrude's remains were transferred to modern-day Mons. In 1552, a stone with the inscription: "Hubertus Tongrensis Epifcopus poftquam elevasset S Walbertum & S Bertilliam elevavit S Waldetrudem presente Carolo Magno Imperatore" was discovered in a wall of the Old Church of Cousolre. [16] The bones of Walbert IV and Saint Bertille were preserved and placed at the Church of Saint-Martin in Cousolre in 1661.