Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

foundress of Oeren. 39 She had several children, of whom Plectrude married Pippin of
Herstal, Adela founded Pfalzel and Crodelinda became abbess of Oeren in her turn. 40
Pippin of Herstal’s grandmother Itta had founded Nivelles; Crodelinda’s niece Glossindis
founded Saint-Pierre-le-Bas in Metz. A large and well-connected family such as this
could afford to diversify and vary the style of religious foundation they favoured.
Irmina’s foundation at Oeren was based in former farm outbuildings; Adela and her
community were installed at Pfalzel, which had originally been a family villa; by contrast
Glossindis’ monastery was created in the urban surroundings of Metz from the ruins of a
Roman basilica. 41
A further example of an extended family’s involvement with a women’s
monastery is that of Hamage. The monastery of Hamage (dép. Nord) is a rare and
fascinating example of archaeological remains that have survived from the seventh and
eighth centuries. 42 It formed part of a strategy of monastic foundation in Artois, driven by
the missionary zeal of Amandus (584-679) in concert with the aristocratic Neustrian
family of Adalbald. His grandmother Gertrude founded Hamage itself; soon afterwards,
his widow, Rictrude (614-688), entered the recently-established house of Marchiennes,
transforming it into a double monastery. 43 One of Rictrude’s daughters succeeded her
mother as abbess of Marchiennes; another, Eusebia, was brought up at Hamage and
became abbess there at the age of twelve. 44 In turn, a second Gertrude, whose name
suggests membership of the same family, became abbess of Hamage. 45 The seventh
century origins of the monastery are illustrated by archaeological finds uncovered in the
39
Unfortunately I have not been able to gain access to Matthias Werner’s major study of this family,
Adelsfamilien im Umkreis der frühen Karolinger : die Verwandtschaft Irminas von Oeren und Adelas von
Pfalzel : personengeschichtliche Untersuchungen zur frümittelalterlichen Führungsschicht im Maas-
Mosel-Gebiet (Sigmarigen, 1982).
40
Gaillard, ‘Les origines du monachisme féminin’, 47-8.
41
Gaillard, ‘Les origines du monachisme féminin’, 49.
42
E. Louis ‘Fouilles archeologiques sur le site du monastère mérovingien puis carolingien de Hamage’ in
Handelingen der Maatschappij voor Geschiendenis en Ouiheidkunde te Gent XLIX (Gent, 1995) 45-69.
43
Hucbald, Vita sanctae Rictrudis, AASS May 12, 78-98. Vita S. Amandi, MGH SSRM 5: 395-449.
44
Vita sanctae Rictrudis 25.
45
Vita Eusebiae II, 13; AASS March II 445-52.
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