Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne
Encyclopedia
Saint Cunibert, Cunipert, or Kunibert (ca. 600 – 12 November ca. 663) was the ninth Bishop of Cologne from 627 to his death. Contemporary sources only mention him between 627 and 643.
Cunibert (also spelled 'Honoberht') was born somewhere along the Moselle
to a family of the local Ripuarian Frankish aristocracy. He entered the church and became archdeacon
of Trier
. He was elected bishop of Cologne in 627. According to legend, he was led by a pigeon to the grave of Saint Ursula
.
As bishop, Cunibert served as an advisor to King Dagobert I
. He was created co-regent
along with the mayor of the palace
Adalgisel
in Austrasia
following the investiture of Sigebert III
(633 or 634), the king's young son, as king there. Following the death of Adalgisel's successor Pepin of Landen, Cunibert served as the chief public official of the king, in which capacity he revised the Lex Ribuaria.
Throughout his episcopacy, monasticism flourished and churches were founded and restored. He is regarded today as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church
and his feast day is the day of his death: November 12. He is buried in a church bearing his name
in Cologne
, city where he lived and died.
Cunibert (also spelled 'Honoberht') was born somewhere along 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...
to a family of the local Ripuarian Frankish aristocracy. He entered the church and became archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
. He was elected bishop of Cologne in 627. According to legend, he was led by a pigeon to the grave of Saint Ursula
Saint Ursula
Saint Ursula is a British Christian saint. Her feast day in the extraordinary form calendar of the Catholic Church is October 21...
.
As bishop, Cunibert served as an advisor to King Dagobert I
Dagobert I
Dagobert I was the king of Austrasia , king of all the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy . He was the last Merovingian dynast to wield any real royal power...
. He was created co-regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
along with the mayor of the palace
Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus , used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries....
Adalgisel
Adalgisel
Adalgisel or Adalgis was a Frankish duke and the mayor of the palace of Austrasia. He assumed that office in December 633 or January 634 at the same time that Sigebert III assumed the kingship. Along with Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne, he acted as regent for the young king...
in Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
following the investiture of Sigebert III
Sigebert III
Sigebert III was the king of Austrasia from 634 to his death; probably on 1 February 656, or maybe as late as 660. He was the eldest son of Dagobert I....
(633 or 634), the king's young son, as king there. Following the death of Adalgisel's successor Pepin of Landen, Cunibert served as the chief public official of the king, in which capacity he revised the Lex Ribuaria.
Throughout his episcopacy, monasticism flourished and churches were founded and restored. He is regarded today as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and his feast day is the day of his death: November 12. He is buried in a church bearing his name
St. Kunibert (Cologne)
St. Kunibert is the youngest of the Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne and was consecrated 1247, one year before work on the Gothic Cologne Cathedral began.- History :...
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, city where he lived and died.