Saint Balthild of Ascania, Abbess of Chelles
She is thought to be a relative of the last pagan king of East Anglia, King Ricberht, and Anglo Saxon descent. Balthild was the wife of Clovis II and Queen of the Franks. Born circa 626, she died January 30, 680.
Balthild was sold into slavery as a young girl and served in the household of Erchinoald, mayor of the palace of Neustria to Clovis. Balthild was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and attentive to the needs of others. Erchinoald, a widower, wished to wed Balthild, but she did not want to marry him and hid until he married another. King Clovis noticed her and asked for her hand in marriage in 649. Balthild was nineteen when she became queen, while Clovis was between the ages of twelve and sixteen. They had three sons, all of which became kings: Clotaire, Childeric and Theuderic, although Childeric would be the one to rule last.
Balthild was humble and modest, even as a queen, famous for charitable service and generous donations from which the abbeys of Corbie and Chelles were founded, as well as those of Jumièges, Jouarre, and Luxeuil, including support to Saint Claudius of Besançon and his abbey in the Jura Mountains. She was also an invaluable stateswoman, abolishing the practice of trading Christian slaves, and sought the freedom of children who had been previously sold into slavery.
When Balthild's husband died, Clotaire, the eldest son and heir to the throne, succeeded at age five. Balthild served as the queen regent until he came of age in 664, when she was forced into a convent, entering the abbey and giving up any royal rank. She dedicated the rest of her life to serving the poor and the infirm.
Balthild died on January 30, 680, buried at the Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris. A gold seal matrix was discovered in 1999 in Postwick with a woman's face and the name Baldhildis in Frankish letters. It is now kept at the Norwich Castle Museum. Balthild was canonized by Pope Nicholas I about 200 years after her death.
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church and Canonized in 880 by Pope Nicholas
Bio by Anne Stevens
She is thought to be a relative of the last pagan king of East Anglia, King Ricberht, and Anglo Saxon descent. Balthild was the wife of Clovis II and Queen of the Franks. Born circa 626, she died January 30, 680.
Balthild was sold into slavery as a young girl and served in the household of Erchinoald, mayor of the palace of Neustria to Clovis. Balthild was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and attentive to the needs of others. Erchinoald, a widower, wished to wed Balthild, but she did not want to marry him and hid until he married another. King Clovis noticed her and asked for her hand in marriage in 649. Balthild was nineteen when she became queen, while Clovis was between the ages of twelve and sixteen. They had three sons, all of which became kings: Clotaire, Childeric and Theuderic, although Childeric would be the one to rule last.
Balthild was humble and modest, even as a queen, famous for charitable service and generous donations from which the abbeys of Corbie and Chelles were founded, as well as those of Jumièges, Jouarre, and Luxeuil, including support to Saint Claudius of Besançon and his abbey in the Jura Mountains. She was also an invaluable stateswoman, abolishing the practice of trading Christian slaves, and sought the freedom of children who had been previously sold into slavery.
When Balthild's husband died, Clotaire, the eldest son and heir to the throne, succeeded at age five. Balthild served as the queen regent until he came of age in 664, when she was forced into a convent, entering the abbey and giving up any royal rank. She dedicated the rest of her life to serving the poor and the infirm.
Balthild died on January 30, 680, buried at the Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris. A gold seal matrix was discovered in 1999 in Postwick with a woman's face and the name Baldhildis in Frankish letters. It is now kept at the Norwich Castle Museum. Balthild was canonized by Pope Nicholas I about 200 years after her death.
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church and Canonized in 880 by Pope Nicholas
Bio by Anne Stevens
Saint Balthild of Ascania, Abbess of Chelles
She is thought to be a relative of the last pagan king of East Anglia, King Ricberht, and Anglo Saxon descent. Balthild was the wife of Clovis II and Queen of the Franks. Born circa 626, she died January 30, 680.
Balthild was sold into slavery as a young girl and served in the household of Erchinoald, mayor of the palace of Neustria to Clovis. Balthild was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and attentive to the needs of others. Erchinoald, a widower, wished to wed Balthild, but she did not want to marry him and hid until he married another. King Clovis noticed her and asked for her hand in marriage in 649. Balthild was nineteen when she became queen, while Clovis was between the ages of twelve and sixteen. They had three sons, all of which became kings: Clotaire, Childeric and Theuderic, although Childeric would be the one to rule last.
Balthild was humble and modest, even as a queen, famous for charitable service and generous donations from which the abbeys of Corbie and Chelles were founded, as well as those of Jumièges, Jouarre, and Luxeuil, including support to Saint Claudius of Besançon and his abbey in the Jura Mountains. She was also an invaluable stateswoman, abolishing the practice of trading Christian slaves, and sought the freedom of children who had been previously sold into slavery.
When Balthild's husband died, Clotaire, the eldest son and heir to the throne, succeeded at age five. Balthild served as the queen regent until he came of age in 664, when she was forced into a convent, entering the abbey and giving up any royal rank. She dedicated the rest of her life to serving the poor and the infirm.
Balthild died on January 30, 680, buried at the Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris. A gold seal matrix was discovered in 1999 in Postwick with a woman's face and the name Baldhildis in Frankish letters. It is now kept at the Norwich Castle Museum. Balthild was canonized by Pope Nicholas I about 200 years after her death.
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church and Canonized in 880 by Pope Nicholas
Bio by Anne Stevens
She is thought to be a relative of the last pagan king of East Anglia, King Ricberht, and Anglo Saxon descent. Balthild was the wife of Clovis II and Queen of the Franks. Born circa 626, she died January 30, 680.
Balthild was sold into slavery as a young girl and served in the household of Erchinoald, mayor of the palace of Neustria to Clovis. Balthild was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and attentive to the needs of others. Erchinoald, a widower, wished to wed Balthild, but she did not want to marry him and hid until he married another. King Clovis noticed her and asked for her hand in marriage in 649. Balthild was nineteen when she became queen, while Clovis was between the ages of twelve and sixteen. They had three sons, all of which became kings: Clotaire, Childeric and Theuderic, although Childeric would be the one to rule last.
Balthild was humble and modest, even as a queen, famous for charitable service and generous donations from which the abbeys of Corbie and Chelles were founded, as well as those of Jumièges, Jouarre, and Luxeuil, including support to Saint Claudius of Besançon and his abbey in the Jura Mountains. She was also an invaluable stateswoman, abolishing the practice of trading Christian slaves, and sought the freedom of children who had been previously sold into slavery.
When Balthild's husband died, Clotaire, the eldest son and heir to the throne, succeeded at age five. Balthild served as the queen regent until he came of age in 664, when she was forced into a convent, entering the abbey and giving up any royal rank. She dedicated the rest of her life to serving the poor and the infirm.
Balthild died on January 30, 680, buried at the Abbey of Chelles outside of Paris. A gold seal matrix was discovered in 1999 in Postwick with a woman's face and the name Baldhildis in Frankish letters. It is now kept at the Norwich Castle Museum. Balthild was canonized by Pope Nicholas I about 200 years after her death.
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church and Canonized in 880 by Pope Nicholas
Bio by Anne Stevens
