Lambert (nobleman of the Maasgau)

Lambert (10th century), was a Lotharingian nobleman with lands somewhere near modern Dutch Limburg, and associated with the Gembloux Abbey in French-speaking Belgium. Its founder Wicbert was probably a close relative. Lambert is known from one record, known from two versions, one made much later in the 16th century, which has however been the subject of much published discussion.

Over the centuries, this Lambert has been claimed as a Count of Louvain, and an "Advocate" (Latin advocatus) of the Abbey. A number of historical records imply that the family group which he and Wicbert seem to be a part of were related to the Ottonian dysnasty, Robert, Archbishop of Trier, and possibly the House of Reginar.

The record which has survived says that one of the early possessions of the Abbey was half of the church at a place called Wiettine or Biettine in the Maasland district. Erluin, the first abbot of Gembloux, wanted sent the founder Wicbert himself (who probably had originally owned and granted the first half to the Abbey). The negotiation succeeded, possession was handed over to the advocatus of the Abbey, and this was observed by a son named Ansfried.

The oldest version is the that found in the Gesta abbatum Gemblacensium, by Sigebert of Gembloux. Aubert Miraeus published the early modern version of this text which appears to have clarified, and maybe modified, the meaning, so that Ansfried is definitely the son of Lambert, not Wicbert. His source was a different old document, the Catalogus Abbatum Gembalcensium, which is today lost. T.hat Lambert was count of Louvain is a statement Miraeus does not explain, and which does not appear in any of the citations he makes from old sources, so it is possibly he is own conclusion.

Ansfried is normally understood to be either Ansfried III, Bishop of Utrecht, who would have been quite young at this time, or his uncle, with the same name, a count with 15 counties, who is normally understood to have been advocatus of Gembloux at around about this time.

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