Saint-Riquier
Encyclopedia
Saint-Riquier is a commune
in the Somme
department in Picardie
in northern France
.
, on the D925 and D32 crossroads.
(Richarius), son of the governor of the town. It was enriched by King Dagobert I
and prospered under the abbacy of Angilbert
, son-in-law of Charlemagne
. The 18th century buildings are occupied by an ecclesiastical seminary. The church is a magnificent example of flamboyant Gothic architecture
of the 15th and 16th centuries, and has a richly sculptured front on the west, surmounted by a square tower. In the interior the fine vaulting, the Renaissance
font and carved stalls, and the frescoes in the treasury are especially noteworthy. Among other valuable relics, the treasury possesses a copper cross said to be the work of Saint Eloi
(Eligius).
The abbey was part of the diocese of Amiens in Ponthieu
. The early counts of Ponthieu
originally were styled advocatus of the abbey of Saint Riquier and "castellan" of Abbeville
. The counts of Ponthieu enrolled their sons, who were going into religion at the abbey. Count Enguerrand I
placed his sons, Fulk, later abbot of Forest-l'Abbaye
, and Guy
, later the bishop of Amiens, in Saint Riquier for their education. Their teacher was abbot Enguerrand "the Wise" (d. 9 December 1045), under whose rule Saint Riquier enjoyed its "golden age." The abbey held estates in Norfolk
, England
.
In 1536 Saint-Riquier repulsed an attack by the Germans, during its defense the women especially distinguishing themselves. In 1544 it was burned by the English, an event that marks the beginning of its decline.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department in Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
The commune is situated 5 miles (8 km) northeast of AbbevilleAbbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
, on the D925 and D32 crossroads.
Abbey
Saint-Riquier (originally Centula or Centulum ) was famous for its abbey, founded about 625 by RiquierRicharius
Richarius was a Frankish hermit, monk, and the founder of two monasteries. He is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.-Life:...
(Richarius), son of the governor of the town. It was enriched by 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...
and prospered under the abbacy of Angilbert
Angilbert
Saint Angilbert was a Frank who served Charlemagne as a diplomat, abbot, poet and semi-son-in-law. He was of noble Frankish parentage, and educated at the palace school in Aquae Grani under Alcuin...
, son-in-law of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. The 18th century buildings are occupied by an ecclesiastical seminary. The church is a magnificent example of flamboyant Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
of the 15th and 16th centuries, and has a richly sculptured front on the west, surmounted by a square tower. In the interior the fine vaulting, the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
font and carved stalls, and the frescoes in the treasury are especially noteworthy. Among other valuable relics, the treasury possesses a copper cross said to be the work of Saint Eloi
Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them...
(Eligius).
The abbey was part of the diocese of Amiens in Ponthieu
Ponthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
. The early counts of Ponthieu
Count of Ponthieu
The County of Ponthieu , centered on the mouth of the Somme, became a member of the Norman group of vassal states when Count Guy submitted to William of Normandy after the battle of Mortemer.....
originally were styled advocatus of the abbey of Saint Riquier and "castellan" of Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
. The counts of Ponthieu enrolled their sons, who were going into religion at the abbey. Count Enguerrand I
Enguerrand I of Ponthieu
Enguerrand I was the son of Hugh I count of Ponthieu.He was apparently married twice. By his first wife Adelaide, daughter of Arnulf, Count of Holland he had his heir, count Hugh II, and possibly a son named Robert...
placed his sons, Fulk, later abbot of Forest-l'Abbaye
Forest-l'Abbaye
Forest-l'Abbaye is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D105 road, on the edge of the forest of Crécy, some north of Abbeville.-History:...
, and Guy
Guy Bishop of Amiens
Guy, Bishop of Amiens was an eleventh century churchman, in what is now the north-east of France.Although the genealogy of early Ponthieu and Boulogne is scanty , it is most likely that Guy, the Bishop of Amiens, was the uncle Guy, Bishop of Amiens (d.1075) was an eleventh century churchman, in...
, later the bishop of Amiens, in Saint Riquier for their education. Their teacher was abbot Enguerrand "the Wise" (d. 9 December 1045), under whose rule Saint Riquier enjoyed its "golden age." The abbey held estates in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In 1536 Saint-Riquier repulsed an attack by the Germans, during its defense the women especially distinguishing themselves. In 1544 it was burned by the English, an event that marks the beginning of its decline.