Saint Lambertus (Lambert, Landebertus), (625-688), Abbot of Abbey of Fontenelle and

Bishop of Lyon The Archdiocese of Lyon (; ), formerly the Archdiocese of Lyon–Vienne–Embrun, is a Latin Church metropolis (religious jurisdiction), metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The archbishops of Lyon are also called Primate o ...

(678-688). His feast day is celebrated on 14 April. He was son of Erlebert (son of Charibert nobilis en Neustria) and so nephew of

Robert I, Bishop of Tours Chrodebert I (Chrotbert, Radobertus, Robert I) (died 695), List of Merovingian referendaries, Merovingian referendary (as Chrotbert, 660-695), son of Charibert de Haspengau and his wife Wulfgurd. Robert and his brothers Erlebert (Thérouanne Nob ...

. He was born in

Quernes Quernes (; ) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France.region of France northwest of Béthune and west of Lille. The inhabitants are called the ''Quernois.'' The commune is part of the Communauté d'agglomération ...

where his father was seigneur. Because of his high rank, he was sent to the court of

Clotaire III Chlothar III (also spelled ''Chlotar'', ''Clothar'', ''Clotaire'', ''Chlotochar'', or ''Hlothar''; 652–673) was King of the Franks, ruling in Neustria and Burgundy from 657 to his death. He also briefly ruled Austrasia. He was the eldest son of ...

, where he soon won the respect of the king and his ministers. Despite this, he chose the life of a clergy and studied under the direction of Abbot Saint Wandrille at Fontenelle Abbey where he received the monastic habit. After Wandrill's death in 665, he was elected as his successor. The competence of Lambertus’ administration of the abbey was soon known. Kings were to take advantage of its examples and its opinions.

Childeric II Childeric II ( 653 – 675) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks in the 7th century. He ruled Austrasia from 662 and Neustria and Kingdom of Burgundy, Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole king for the final two years o ...

honored his confidence and made large donations to the abbey.

Theuderic III Theuderic III (also spelled Theuderich, Theoderic or Theodoric; , 651–691) was King of the Franks in the 7th century. He ruled Neustria and Burgundy on two occasions (in 673 and again from 675 to 691), as well as Austrasia from 679 until his ...

, who succeeded his brother in 675, was however, too liberal for the abbot. He did provide land in Donzère where Lambertus built a monastery. Among his disciples were his uncle Adelbert, Saint Hermeland Indre, (later

Bishop of Toulouse The Archdiocese of Toulouse (–Saint Bertrand de Comminges–Rieux) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese comprises the Department of Haute-Garonne and its seat is Toulouse Cathedral. Archbi ...

), and Saint Condède, hermit of England, who founded the Monastery of Belcinac on an island in the Seine. Saint Genesius, Bishop of Lyon, died around the year 679, and Lambertus was elected to replace him on the recommendation of the king and with the consent of the clergy and the people. He died in 688. Lambertus was one of the early members of the Robertian family by virtue of his relationship with his uncle Robert I.

Sources

Christian Settipani Christian Settipani (born 31 January 1961) is a French genealogist, historian and IT professional, currently working as the Technical Director of a company in Paris. Biography Settipani holds a Master of Advanced Studies from the Paris-Sorb ...

, ''Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne'', 2e édition revue et corrigée, éd. P & G, Prosopographia et Genealogica, 2015, p. 134. * Hervé Pinoteau, ''La symbolique royale française'', Ve-XVIIIe siècles, P.S.R. éditions, 2004, p. 45. {{authority control 625 births 688 deaths French abbots Bishops of Lyon