Fridolin of Säckingen
Encyclopedia
Saint Fridolin, otherwise Fridolin of Säckingen, traditionally believed to have been born in Ireland
, was a missionary, and the founder of Säckingen Abbey
, Baden
, in the 6th or 7th century. He is honoured as the apostle of the Alamanns
.
, in the time of the Merovingians. The only portion of the late "Life" that can be regarded as historically sound is that he founded a monastery on the island of Säckingen in the Rhine. There is no exact information on the date of the foundation. The monastery, however, was of great importance by the 9th century: the earliest extant document concerning it records the gift, on 10 February 878, of the monastery by Charles the Fat
to his wife Richardis.
, where in answer to a vision, he sought out the relics of Saint Hilarius, and built a church for them. Saint Hilarius subsequently appeared to him in a dream, and commanded him to proceed to an island in the Rhine, in the territories of the Alamanns. In obedience to this summons, Fridolin approached the "Emperor" Clovis
, who granted him possession of the still unknown island, and thence proceeded through "Helion" , Strasbourg
and Coire, founding churches in every district in honour of Saint Hilarius.
He also, according to the "Vita", spent considerable time in the territory that is now Switzerland
, where he converted the landowner Urso. On his death Urso left his enormous lands, now the Canton of Glarus
, to Fridolin, who founded numerous churches dedicated to Saint Hilarius (the origin of the name "Glarus"). Urso's brother Landolf refused to accept the legitimacy of the gift and brought Fridolin before a court at Rankweil
to prove his title. Fridolin did so by summoning Urso from the dead to confirm the gift in person, so terrifying Landolf that he gave his lands to Fridolin as well. Fridolin is thus often represented with a decomposing corpse, in reference to this story.
At last reaching the island of Säckingen in the Rhine, Fridolin recognized in it the island indicated in the dream, and prepared to build a church there. The inhabitants of the banks of the Rhine, however, who used the island as pasture for their cattle, mistook Fridolin for a cattle-robber and expelled him. On his production of Clovis's deed of gift, he was allowed to return, and to found a church and monastery on the island.
He then resumed his missionary labours. He founded the "Scottish monastery" ("Schottenstift
") in Konstanz
, and extended his mission to Augsburg
. He died on 6 March, and was buried at Säckingen. Balther, the writer of this legend, claims to have derived his information from a biography which he discovered in the monastery of "Helera" on the Moselle
, also founded by Fridolin, and which, as he was unable to copy it for lack of parchment and ink, he had learned by heart.
This may simply mean that Balther could find no written sources and was obliged to rely on verbal tradition for the information in his biography. Not a single ancient author mentions Fridolin. Nor does the Life have any proper historical chronological arrangement, and there is a great number miracles and visions. It has therefore mostly been dismissed as unhistorical, although occasionally held to contain a germ of truth. In the early Middle Ages
, there was certainly some connection between Säckingen and Poitiers, from which the former monastery received its relics, and this may have made the author connect Fridolin with the veneration of Saint Hilarius of Poitiers, and the churches erected in his honour.
Attribution
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, was a missionary, and the founder of Säckingen Abbey
Säckingen Abbey
Säckingen Abbey is a former Roman Catholic abbey located in Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The Abbey was founded in the 6th or 7th Century by Fridolin of Säckingen, an Irish monk...
, Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, in the 6th or 7th century. He is honoured as the apostle of the Alamanns
Alamannia
Alamannia or Alemannia was the territory inhabited by the Germanic Alamanni after they broke through the Roman limes in 213.The Alamanni expanded from the Main basin during the 3rd century, raiding the Roman provinces and settling on the left bank of the Rhine from the 4th century.Ruled by...
.
Life
There is very little definite information on Fridolin. He is traditionally venerated as an Irish missionary and the first to work among the Alamanns on the Upper RhineUpper Rhine
The Upper Rhine is the section of the Rhine in the Upper Rhine Plain between Basel, Switzerland and Bingen, Germany. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometers 170 to 529 ....
, in the time of the Merovingians. The only portion of the late "Life" that can be regarded as historically sound is that he founded a monastery on the island of Säckingen in the Rhine. There is no exact information on the date of the foundation. The monastery, however, was of great importance by the 9th century: the earliest extant document concerning it records the gift, on 10 February 878, of the monastery by Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat was the King of Alemannia from 876, King of Italy from 879, western Emperor from 881, King of East Francia from 882, and King of West Francia from 884. In 887, he was deposed in East Francia, Lotharingia, and possibly Italy, where the records are not clear...
to his wife Richardis.
Legend
The biography written by Balther, a monk of Säckingen, at the beginning of the 11th century , is the earliest documentary reference to Fridolin (or Fridold), According to this, he belonged to a noble family in Ireland, and at first was a missionary there. Afterwards crossing to France, he came to PoitiersPoitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, where in answer to a vision, he sought out the relics of Saint Hilarius, and built a church for them. Saint Hilarius subsequently appeared to him in a dream, and commanded him to proceed to an island in the Rhine, in the territories of the Alamanns. In obedience to this summons, Fridolin approached the "Emperor" Clovis
Clovis I
Clovis Leuthwig was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the leadership from a group of royal chieftains, to rule by kings, ensuring that the kingship was held by his heirs. He was also the first Catholic King to rule over Gaul . He was the son...
, who granted him possession of the still unknown island, and thence proceeded through "Helion" , Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and Coire, founding churches in every district in honour of Saint Hilarius.
He also, according to the "Vita", spent considerable time in the territory that is now Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he converted the landowner Urso. On his death Urso left his enormous lands, now the Canton of Glarus
Canton of Glarus
The Canton of Glarus is a canton in east central Switzerland. The capital is Glarus.The population speaks a variety of Alemannic German.The majority of the population identifies as Christian, about evenly split between the Protestant and Catholic confessions.-History:According to legend, the...
, to Fridolin, who founded numerous churches dedicated to Saint Hilarius (the origin of the name "Glarus"). Urso's brother Landolf refused to accept the legitimacy of the gift and brought Fridolin before a court at Rankweil
Rankweil
Rankweil is a town beautifully situated in the River-Rhine-Valley , Vorarlberg, Austria, part of the district Feldkirch. As of 2002 it has a population of 11,443. Attractions include its Basilica. It is also the hometown of the former Olympic ski champion Mario Reiter.Images of the Rankweil...
to prove his title. Fridolin did so by summoning Urso from the dead to confirm the gift in person, so terrifying Landolf that he gave his lands to Fridolin as well. Fridolin is thus often represented with a decomposing corpse, in reference to this story.
At last reaching the island of Säckingen in the Rhine, Fridolin recognized in it the island indicated in the dream, and prepared to build a church there. The inhabitants of the banks of the Rhine, however, who used the island as pasture for their cattle, mistook Fridolin for a cattle-robber and expelled him. On his production of Clovis's deed of gift, he was allowed to return, and to found a church and monastery on the island.
He then resumed his missionary labours. He founded the "Scottish monastery" ("Schottenstift
Hiberno-Scottish mission
The Hiberno-Scottish mission was a mission led by Irish and Scottish monks which spread Christianity and established monasteries in Great Britain and continental Europe during the Middle Ages...
") in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
, and extended his mission to Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
. He died on 6 March, and was buried at Säckingen. Balther, the writer of this legend, claims to have derived his information from a biography which he discovered in the monastery of "Helera" on the Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, also founded by Fridolin, and which, as he was unable to copy it for lack of parchment and ink, he had learned by heart.
This may simply mean that Balther could find no written sources and was obliged to rely on verbal tradition for the information in his biography. Not a single ancient author mentions Fridolin. Nor does the Life have any proper historical chronological arrangement, and there is a great number miracles and visions. It has therefore mostly been dismissed as unhistorical, although occasionally held to contain a germ of truth. In the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, there was certainly some connection between Säckingen and Poitiers, from which the former monastery received its relics, and this may have made the author connect Fridolin with the veneration of Saint Hilarius of Poitiers, and the churches erected in his honour.
External links
Illustrations of the Legend of FridolonAttribution