Saint Radegund
| Saint Radegund | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | c. 520 Thuringian tribes |
| Died | 13 August 587 (aged 66–67) Abbey of the Holy Cross, Poitiers, Aquitaine, Kingdom of the Franks |
| Venerated in |
Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Church of St. Radegonde, Poitiers, Vienne, France |
| Feast | 13 August |
| Patronage | Jesus College, Cambridge |
| Radegund | |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Clotaire I |
| Dynasty | Merovingian (by marriage) |
| Father | Bertachar |
Radegund (Latin: Radegunda; also spelled Rhadegund, Radegonde, or Radigund; c. 520 — 13 August 587) was a Thuringian princess and Frankish queen, who founded the Abbey of the Holy Cross at Poitiers. She is the patron saint of several churches in France and England and of Jesus College, Cambridge (whose full name is "The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge").
Radegund was born about 520 to Bertachar, one of the three kings of the German land Thuringia. Radegund's uncle, Hermanfrid, killed Bertachar in battle, and took Radegund into his household. After allying with the Frankish King Theuderic, Hermanfrid defeated his other brother Baderic. However, having crushed his brothers and seized control of Thuringia, Hermanfrid reneged on his agreement with Theuderic to share sovereignty.
In 531, Theuderic returned to Thuringia with his brother Clotaire I (also known as Chlothar). Together they defeated Hermanfrid and conquered his kingdom. Clotaire I also took charge of Radegund, taking her back to Merovingian Gaul with him. He sent the child to his villa of Athies in Picardy for several years, before marrying her in 540.
Radegund was one of Clotaire I’s six wives or concubines (the other five being Guntheuca who was the widow of his brother Chlodomer, Chunsina, Ingund, Ingund’s sister Aregund and Wuldetrada the widow of Clotaire's grand-nephew Theudebald). She bore him no children. Radegund was noted for her almsgiving.
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