Saint Aichardus (or Achard, Achart, Aicard, Aichard; died 687) was a

Frankish Frankish may refer to: * Franks, a Germanic tribe and their culture ** Frankish language or its modern descendants, Franconian languages, a group of Low Germanic languages also commonly referred to as "Frankish" varieties * Francia, a post-Roman ...

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

monk and abbot known for his austerity. He became abbot of

Jumièges Abbey Jumièges Abbey (), formally the Abbey of St Peter at Jumièges (), was a Benedictine monastery. Its ruins are situated in the commune of Jumièges in the Seine-Maritime Departement of Normandy, France. History Around 654 the abbey was founde ...

, a major religious center that was home to 900 monks. His feast day is 15 September.

History

Saint Aichardus was the son of a military officer of

Chlothar II Chlothar II, sometimes called "the Young" ( French: le Jeune), (May/June 584 – 18 October 629) was king of the Franks, ruling Neustria (584–629), Burgundy (613–629) and Austrasia (613–623). The son of Chilperic I and his third wife, Fred ...

, King of the Franks. He received a monastic education in

Poitiers Poitiers is a city on the river Clain in west-central France. It is a commune in France, commune, the capital of the Vienne (department), Vienne department and the historical center of Poitou, Poitou Province. In 2021, it had a population of 9 ...

. Although his father wanted him to join the military, his mother intervened and he was allowed to become a monk at in Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. He spent 39 years at this monastery. When Saint

Philibert of Jumièges Philibert of Jumièges (c. 608–684) was an abbot and Monastery, monastic founder, particularly associated with Jumièges Abbey. Life Philibert was born in Gascony, the only son of Filibaud, a magistrate of Vicus Julius (now Aire-sur-l'Ado ...

founded a Benedictine monastery in Quinçay he appointed Aichardus as prior. Philibert died in

, and Aichardus succeeded him as abbot of Jumieges. He died in 687 at

Monks of Ramsgate account

The monks of

St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate St Augustine's Abbey or Ramsgate Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey in Ramsgate. It was built in 1860 by Augustus Pugin and is a Grade II listed building. It was the first Benedictine monastery to be built in England since the Reformation. In ...

, wrote in their ''Book of Saints'' (1921),

Donnelly's account

Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly in her ''Short Lives of the Saints'' (1910) wrote,

Butler's account

The hagiographer

Alban Butler Alban Butler (13 October 171015 May 1773) was an English Roman Catholic priest and hagiography, hagiographer. Born in Northamptonshire, he studied at the English College, in Douai, Douay, France where he later taught philosophy and theology. He s ...

( 1710–1773) wrote in his ''Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints'', under September 15,

References

Sources

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Aichardus 7th-century Frankish saints Frankish Benedictines 687 deaths