(A.D. 814.)
[Some French Martyrologies. Authorities:--A life by Hariulph the
Monk, which is, however, much interpolated; and a later life.]
Angilbert, a man of noble birth, was much loved by Pepin the Short,
son of Charles Martel, and by his sons, Charles and Carloman. He was
destined to rule one of the Archiepiscopal sees. Nevertheless, he
married Bertha, daughter of Charlemagne, after he was ordained priest,
with the king's consent, and by her had two sons, Nithard and
Harnid.[55] Charlemagne now made his son-in-law duke of the northern
coast, and his office was to watch against, and resist the attacks of
the Norman pirates. In his perigrinations he often stopped at
Centulum, where was a monastery, and prayed with fervour at the tomb
of S. Richarius (Riquier). Falling into a dangerous illness, he vowed
that, should he recover, he would embrace the monastic life. On his
restoration to health, he was summoned to resist the Danes, who had
run their boats up the Somme, and were devastating the country on both
sides. Angilbert at once went to the tomb of S. Richarius, renewed his
vow, and then, buckling on his harness, fell like a thunderbolt on the
pirates, and utterly defeated and exterminated them. He at once
communicated his intention to his wife and to the king; neither raised
any objections, and the gentle Bertha herself took the veil at the
same time that her husband donned the monastic habit, in the same
house of Centulum, though, probably, in a different part of the
monastery.
S. Angilbert was sent on several missions to Rome. On one occasion he
was charged to conduct thither Felix, bishop of Urgel, who had been
condemned by a provincial council at Ratisbon, for having affirmed
that Christ was merely the adopted son of God.
He died twenty-two days after Charlemagne.
[54] To a great extent taken from Canon Bright's Church History.
[55] This is stated by the author of his life, and Nithard himself
(lib. 4) says of his father, "He begot me, Nithard, and my brother,
Harnid, of the daughter of this great king, called Bertha"; but, on
the other hand, Eginhard does not mention Angilbert, and this has led
Bollandus to express a doubt on the matter.
[Illustration: S. Agatha. See page 136.]
February 19.
S. AUXIBIUS, _B. of Solias, in Cyprus, circ._ A.D. 102.
S. GABINIUS, _P. M. at Rome_, A.D. 296.
S. ZABDAS, _B. of Jerusalem_, A.D. 304.
S. ODRAN, _M. in Ireland; about_ A.D. 451.
S. CONON, _Ab. in Palestine; circ._ A.D. 555.
S. MANSUETUS, _B. of Milan; after_ A.D. 680.
S. BARBATUS, _B. of Benevento_, A.D. 682.
S. BEATUS, _P. at Valle-cava in Asturia_, A.D. 798.
S. BELINA, _V. M. at Landreville_, A.D. 1153.
S. BONIFACE, _B. of Lausanne_, A.D. 1265.
B. CONARD, _H. at Noto in Sicily_, A.D. 1351.