Rictrude

Rictrude (Rictrudis, Richtrudis, Richrudis) (c. 614–688) was abbess of Marchiennes Abbey, in Flanders. The main early source for her life is the Vita Rictrudis of Hucbald, commissioned by the abbey, and written in 907 by Hucbald.^[1]

She was from a noble family in Gascony. She married Adalbard, later murdered. In Hucbald's account, this is shown deliberately as a model marriage.^[2]

Four of her five children were Clotsinda, her daughter and successor as abbess,^[3] Adalsinda,^[4] Eusebia and Maurantius.^[5]

She is a Catholic saint, feast day 12 May. All four children are also saints.

References

• Jo Ann McNamara, John E. Halborg, E. Gordon Whatley (1992), Sainted Women of the Dark Ages, pp. 195–219

References

1. Karine Ugé, The Legend of Saint Rictrude, pp. 283-4, in John Gillingham, Anglo-Norman Studies 23: Proceedings of the Battle Conference 2000 (2001)
2. Philip Lyndon Reynolds, Marriage in the Western Church (2001), p. 411.
3. Matthew Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints (2003), p. 214.
4. Bunson and Bunson, p. 34.
5. Saint of the Day, May 12: Rictrudis of Marchiennes SaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved 2012-03-08.