Individual Details
Saint Arnulf of Metz
(Ca 582 - 640)
Arnulf of Metz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see St Arnulf (disambiguation).
Saint Arnulf of Metz
Saint Arnould.jpg
Born c. 582 AD
Lay-Saint-Christophe
Died 640 AD
near Remiremont
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast July 18
Attributes portrayed with a rake in his hand
Patronage Brewers
Carolingian dynasty
Pippinids
Pippin the Elder (c. 580–640)
Grimoald (616–656)
Childebert the Adopted (d. 662)
Arnulfings
Arnulf of Metz (582–640)
Ansegisel (d. 662 or 679)
Chlodulf of Metz (d. 696 or 697)
Pepin of Herstal (635-714)
Grimoald II (d. 714)
Drogo of Champagne (670–708)
Theudoald (d. 741)
Carolingians
Charles Martel (686–741)
Carloman (d. 754)
Pepin the Short (714–768)
Carloman I (751–771)
Charlemagne (742–814)
Pepin the Hunchback (768–811)
Charles the Younger (772–811)
Pepin of Italy (773–810)
Louis the Pious (778–840)
Pepin I of Aquitaine (797–838)
After the Treaty of Verdun (843)
Lothair I, Holy Roman Emperor
(795–855; Middle Francia)
Charles the Bald (823–877)
(West Francia)
Louis the German (804–876)
(East Francia)
This box:
view talk edit
Saint Arnulf of Metz (c. 582 – 640) was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont. In French he is also known as Arnoul or Arnoulf. In English he is also known as Arnold.
Contents
1 Genealogy
2 Life
3 Legends
3.1 The Legend of the Ring
3.2 The Legend of the Fire
3.3 The Legend of the Beer Mug
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References
Genealogy
Shortly after 800, most likely in Metz, a brief genealogy of the Carolingians was compiled, modelled in style after the genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament. According to this source, Arnulf's father was a certain Arnoald, who in turn was the son of a nobilissimus Ansbertus and Blithilt (or Blithilde), an alleged and otherwise unattested daughter of Chlothar I. This claim of royal Merovingian descent is not confirmed by the contemporary reference in the Vita Sancti Arnulfi.
The Vita, written shortly after the saint's death, states that he was of Frankish ancestry, from "sufficiently elevated and noble parentage, and very rich in worldly goods",[1] without making any claims to royal blood. However, under Salic Law, no children of Blithilde would be recognized as legitimate heirs to the dynasty. Therefore, the connection may or may not have been noted in relevant documentation.
Life
Arnulf was born to an important Frankish family around 582. The family owned vast domains between the Mosel and Meuse rivers.[2] As an adolescent, he was called to the Merovingian court of king Theudebert II (595–612) of Austrasia[3] and sent to serve as dux at the Schelde.
Arnulf gave distinguished service at the Austrasian court under Theudebert II. He distinguished himself both as a military commander and in the civil administration; at one time he had under his care six distinct provinces.[3] Arnulf was married ca 596 to a woman whom later sources give the name of Dode or Doda, (born ca 584), and had children. Chlodulf of Metz was his oldest son, but more important is his second son Ansegisel, who married Begga daughter of Pepin I, Pippin of Landen. Arnulf is thus the male-line grandfather of Pepin of Herstal, great-grandfather of Charles Martel and 3rd great grandfather of Charlemagne. After his wife went on to become a nun, Arnulf saw it as a sign of God and became a priest and bishop afterwards.[4]
The rule of Austrasia came into the hands of Brunhilda, the grandmother of Theudebert, who ruled also in Burgundy in the name of her great-grandchildren. In 613 Arnulf joined his politics with Pippin of Landen and led the opposition of Frankish nobles against Queen Brunhilda. The revolt led to her overthrow, torture, and eventual execution, and the subsequent reunification of Frankish lands under Chlothachar II.
He and his friend Romaricus, likewise an officer of the court, planned to make a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Lérins.[3] Chlothachar, who appreciated Arnulf's administrative skills, offered him the vacant see of Metz, the capital of the Autrasian kingdom. Arnulf continued to serve the king's steward and courtier.[2]
Chlothachar later made his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia, which he ruled with the help of his adviser Arnulf. Pippin of Landen, became the Mayor of the Palace. Not satisfied with his position as a bishop, he was involved in the 624 murder of Chrodoald, an important leader of the Frankish Agilolfings family and a protégé of Dagobert.[citation needed]
During his career he was attracted to religious life, and he retired to become a monk. He retired around 628 to a hermitage at a mountain site in his domains in the Vosges. His friend Romaric, whose parents were killed by Brunhilda, had preceded him to the mountains around 613, and together with Amatus had already established Remiremont Abbey there. After the death of Chlothachar in 629, Arnulf settled near Habendum, where he died some time between 643 and 647. He was buried at Remiremont.[2]
Arnulf was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In iconography he is portrayed with a rake in his hand.
Legends
There are three legends associated with Arnulf:
The Legend of the Ring
Arnulf was tormented by the violence that surrounded him and feared that he had played a role in the wars and murders that plagued the ruling families. Obsessed by these sins, Arnulf went to a bridge over the Moselle river. There he took off his bishop’s ring and threw it into the river, praying to God to give him a sign of absolution by returning the ring to him. Many penitent years later, a fisherman brought to the bishop’s kitchen a fish in the stomach of which was found the bishop’s ring. Arnulf repaid the sign of God by immediately retiring as bishop and becoming a hermit for the remainder of his life.
The Legend of the Fire
At the moment Arnulf resigned as bishop, a fire broke out in the cellars of the royal palace and threatened to spread throughout the city of Metz. Arnulf, full of courage and feeling unity with the townspeople, stood before the fire and said, “If God wants me to be consumed, I am in His hands.” He then made the sign of the cross at which point the fire immediately receded.
The Legend of the Beer Mug
It was July 642 and very hot when the parishioners of Metz went to Remiremont to recover the remains of their former bishop. They had little to drink and the terrain was inhospitable. At the point when the exhausted procession was about to leave Champigneulles, one of the parishioners, Duc Notto, prayed “By his powerful intercession the Blessed Arnold will bring us what we lack.” Immediately the small remnant of beer at the bottom of a pot multiplied in such amounts that the pilgrims' thirst was quenched and they had enough to enjoy the next evening when they arrived in Metz.
See also
Portal icon Saints portal
The Pippinids, who traced their descent from St. Arnulf.
Descent from antiquity
Tonantius Ferreolus (prefect)
Notes
Vita Arnulfi c. 1, MG. SS. rer. Merov. 2, p. 432.
Riche, Pierre. The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993, ISBN 9780812213423
Schaefer, Francis. "St. Arnulf of Metz." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 18 Jul. 2014
Jean-Christophe Imbert, Geniphone.com: Lectio Divina; 18 July
References
Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints, edited, revised and supplemented by Thurston and Attwater. Christian Classics, Westminster, Maryland.
Christian Settipani – La Préhistoire des Capétiens, Première Partie.
Saint ARNOUL – ancêtre de Charlemagne et des Européens, edited by Imp. Louis Hellenbrand. Le Comité d'Historicité Européene de la Lorraine, Metz, France, 1989.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see St Arnulf (disambiguation).
Saint Arnulf of Metz
Saint Arnould.jpg
Born c. 582 AD
Lay-Saint-Christophe
Died 640 AD
near Remiremont
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast July 18
Attributes portrayed with a rake in his hand
Patronage Brewers
Carolingian dynasty
Pippinids
Pippin the Elder (c. 580–640)
Grimoald (616–656)
Childebert the Adopted (d. 662)
Arnulfings
Arnulf of Metz (582–640)
Ansegisel (d. 662 or 679)
Chlodulf of Metz (d. 696 or 697)
Pepin of Herstal (635-714)
Grimoald II (d. 714)
Drogo of Champagne (670–708)
Theudoald (d. 741)
Carolingians
Charles Martel (686–741)
Carloman (d. 754)
Pepin the Short (714–768)
Carloman I (751–771)
Charlemagne (742–814)
Pepin the Hunchback (768–811)
Charles the Younger (772–811)
Pepin of Italy (773–810)
Louis the Pious (778–840)
Pepin I of Aquitaine (797–838)
After the Treaty of Verdun (843)
Lothair I, Holy Roman Emperor
(795–855; Middle Francia)
Charles the Bald (823–877)
(West Francia)
Louis the German (804–876)
(East Francia)
This box:
view talk edit
Saint Arnulf of Metz (c. 582 – 640) was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont. In French he is also known as Arnoul or Arnoulf. In English he is also known as Arnold.
Contents
1 Genealogy
2 Life
3 Legends
3.1 The Legend of the Ring
3.2 The Legend of the Fire
3.3 The Legend of the Beer Mug
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References
Genealogy
Shortly after 800, most likely in Metz, a brief genealogy of the Carolingians was compiled, modelled in style after the genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament. According to this source, Arnulf's father was a certain Arnoald, who in turn was the son of a nobilissimus Ansbertus and Blithilt (or Blithilde), an alleged and otherwise unattested daughter of Chlothar I. This claim of royal Merovingian descent is not confirmed by the contemporary reference in the Vita Sancti Arnulfi.
The Vita, written shortly after the saint's death, states that he was of Frankish ancestry, from "sufficiently elevated and noble parentage, and very rich in worldly goods",[1] without making any claims to royal blood. However, under Salic Law, no children of Blithilde would be recognized as legitimate heirs to the dynasty. Therefore, the connection may or may not have been noted in relevant documentation.
Life
Arnulf was born to an important Frankish family around 582. The family owned vast domains between the Mosel and Meuse rivers.[2] As an adolescent, he was called to the Merovingian court of king Theudebert II (595–612) of Austrasia[3] and sent to serve as dux at the Schelde.
Arnulf gave distinguished service at the Austrasian court under Theudebert II. He distinguished himself both as a military commander and in the civil administration; at one time he had under his care six distinct provinces.[3] Arnulf was married ca 596 to a woman whom later sources give the name of Dode or Doda, (born ca 584), and had children. Chlodulf of Metz was his oldest son, but more important is his second son Ansegisel, who married Begga daughter of Pepin I, Pippin of Landen. Arnulf is thus the male-line grandfather of Pepin of Herstal, great-grandfather of Charles Martel and 3rd great grandfather of Charlemagne. After his wife went on to become a nun, Arnulf saw it as a sign of God and became a priest and bishop afterwards.[4]
The rule of Austrasia came into the hands of Brunhilda, the grandmother of Theudebert, who ruled also in Burgundy in the name of her great-grandchildren. In 613 Arnulf joined his politics with Pippin of Landen and led the opposition of Frankish nobles against Queen Brunhilda. The revolt led to her overthrow, torture, and eventual execution, and the subsequent reunification of Frankish lands under Chlothachar II.
He and his friend Romaricus, likewise an officer of the court, planned to make a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Lérins.[3] Chlothachar, who appreciated Arnulf's administrative skills, offered him the vacant see of Metz, the capital of the Autrasian kingdom. Arnulf continued to serve the king's steward and courtier.[2]
Chlothachar later made his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia, which he ruled with the help of his adviser Arnulf. Pippin of Landen, became the Mayor of the Palace. Not satisfied with his position as a bishop, he was involved in the 624 murder of Chrodoald, an important leader of the Frankish Agilolfings family and a protégé of Dagobert.[citation needed]
During his career he was attracted to religious life, and he retired to become a monk. He retired around 628 to a hermitage at a mountain site in his domains in the Vosges. His friend Romaric, whose parents were killed by Brunhilda, had preceded him to the mountains around 613, and together with Amatus had already established Remiremont Abbey there. After the death of Chlothachar in 629, Arnulf settled near Habendum, where he died some time between 643 and 647. He was buried at Remiremont.[2]
Arnulf was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In iconography he is portrayed with a rake in his hand.
Legends
There are three legends associated with Arnulf:
The Legend of the Ring
Arnulf was tormented by the violence that surrounded him and feared that he had played a role in the wars and murders that plagued the ruling families. Obsessed by these sins, Arnulf went to a bridge over the Moselle river. There he took off his bishop’s ring and threw it into the river, praying to God to give him a sign of absolution by returning the ring to him. Many penitent years later, a fisherman brought to the bishop’s kitchen a fish in the stomach of which was found the bishop’s ring. Arnulf repaid the sign of God by immediately retiring as bishop and becoming a hermit for the remainder of his life.
The Legend of the Fire
At the moment Arnulf resigned as bishop, a fire broke out in the cellars of the royal palace and threatened to spread throughout the city of Metz. Arnulf, full of courage and feeling unity with the townspeople, stood before the fire and said, “If God wants me to be consumed, I am in His hands.” He then made the sign of the cross at which point the fire immediately receded.
The Legend of the Beer Mug
It was July 642 and very hot when the parishioners of Metz went to Remiremont to recover the remains of their former bishop. They had little to drink and the terrain was inhospitable. At the point when the exhausted procession was about to leave Champigneulles, one of the parishioners, Duc Notto, prayed “By his powerful intercession the Blessed Arnold will bring us what we lack.” Immediately the small remnant of beer at the bottom of a pot multiplied in such amounts that the pilgrims' thirst was quenched and they had enough to enjoy the next evening when they arrived in Metz.
See also
Portal icon Saints portal
The Pippinids, who traced their descent from St. Arnulf.
Descent from antiquity
Tonantius Ferreolus (prefect)
Notes
Vita Arnulfi c. 1, MG. SS. rer. Merov. 2, p. 432.
Riche, Pierre. The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993, ISBN 9780812213423
Schaefer, Francis. "St. Arnulf of Metz." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 18 Jul. 2014
Jean-Christophe Imbert, Geniphone.com: Lectio Divina; 18 July
References
Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints, edited, revised and supplemented by Thurston and Attwater. Christian Classics, Westminster, Maryland.
Christian Settipani – La Préhistoire des Capétiens, Première Partie.
Saint ARNOUL – ancêtre de Charlemagne et des Européens, edited by Imp. Louis Hellenbrand. Le Comité d'Historicité Européene de la Lorraine, Metz, France, 1989.
Events
| Birth | Ca 582 | Lay-Saint-Christophe, France | |||
| Death | 640 | ||||
| Title (Nobility) | Frankish Bishop of Metz | ||||
| Title (Nobility) | Saint, patron saint of brewers |