.gif)
Saint Lambert (martyr)
Encyclopedia
Saint Lambert (c. 636
– c. 700 AD) was the bishop of Maastricht (Tongeren) from about 670 until his death. Lambert was from a noble family of Maastricht, a protégé of his uncle, Bishop Theodard of Maastricht
. When Theodard was murdered soon after 669, the councillors of Childeric II
made Lambert bishop of Maastricht. Lambert was related to Hugobert
and Plectrude
, Pepin of Heristal's lawful wife and thus an in-law of hereditary mayors of the palace
who controlled the Merovingian kings of Austrasia
. After Childeric was murdered in 673, the faction of Ebroin
, majordomo of Neustria
and the power behind that throne, expelled him from his see, in favor of their candidate, Faramundus. Lambert spent seven years in exile at the recently founded Abbey of Stavelot
(674–681). With a change in the turbulent political fortunes of the time, Lambert was returned to his see.
In company with Willibrord
, who had come from England in 691, Lambert preached the gospel to the pagans in the lower stretches of the Meuse
, in the area to the north.
Shortly after Lambert's (and Plectrude's) family had murdered Dodo, a domesticus of Pepin of Heristal and father of Pepin's mistress Alpaida
, Dodo's relatives murdered Lambert on his estate, the Gallo-Roman villa
that has become Liège. Lambert thus became a martyr for his defence of marital fidelity, denouncing Pepin's liaison with Alpaida
, daughter of Dodo, who was to become the mother of Charles Martel
(CE "Saint Lambert").
Although Lambert was buried at Maastricht, his successor as bishop, Hubertus
, translated his relics to Liège, to which the see of Maastricht was eventually moved. The shrine became St. Lambert's Cathedral
, destroyed in 1794. Its site is the modern Place Saint-Lambert. Lambert's tomb is now located in the present Liège Cathedral
.
His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church
calendar is September 17. The Lambertusfest in Münster
has long been a folk holiday, celebrated for two weeks culminating on the eve of the 17th of September. Children build "Lambertus pyramids" of branches, decorated with lanterns and lamps around which they dance and sing traditional songs (known as Lambertussingen or Käskenspiel).
636
Year 636 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 636 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* August 20 – Battle of Yarmuk:...
– c. 700 AD) was the bishop of Maastricht (Tongeren) from about 670 until his death. Lambert was from a noble family of Maastricht, a protégé of his uncle, Bishop Theodard of Maastricht
Theodard of Maastricht
Theodard of Maastricht was a seventh-century bishop of Maastricht, in present-day Belgium. He is known from hagiographical writings from later centuries, in particular one by Anselm of Liège. He was murdered, probably c.670, on a journey to Childeric II of Austrasia. His nephew, Lambert of...
. When Theodard was murdered soon after 669, the councillors of Childeric II
Childeric II
Childeric II was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole King of the Franks for the final two years of his life. He was the second eldest son of Clovis II. His elder brother Chlothar III was briefly sole king from 661, but gave...
made Lambert bishop of Maastricht. Lambert was related to Hugobert
Hugobert
Hugobert was a seneschal and a count of the palace at the Merovingian court during the reigns of Theuderic III and Childebert III. He was a grandson of the dux Theotar, and it is assumed, but not proven, that his father was a certain Chugus, who in 617 became mayor of the palace of Austrasia...
and Plectrude
Plectrude
Plectrude was the wife of Pepin of Herstal, the mayor of the palace and duke of the Franks, from about 670. She was the daughter of Hugobert, seneschal of Clovis IV, and Irmina d'Oeren....
, Pepin of Heristal's lawful wife and thus an in-law of hereditary mayors 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....
who controlled the Merovingian kings of 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...
. After Childeric was murdered in 673, the faction of Ebroin
Ebroin
Ebroin was the Frankish mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681...
, majordomo of Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
and the power behind that throne, expelled him from his see, in favor of their candidate, Faramundus. Lambert spent seven years in exile at the recently founded Abbey of Stavelot
Stavelot
Stavelot is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Stavelot had a total population of 6,671. The total area is 85.07 km² which gives a population density of 78 inhabitants per km².-History:...
(674–681). With a change in the turbulent political fortunes of the time, Lambert was returned to his see.
In company with Willibrord
Willibrord
__notoc__Willibrord was a Northumbrian missionary saint, known as the "Apostle to the Frisians" in the modern Netherlands...
, who had come from England in 691, Lambert preached the gospel to the pagans in the lower stretches of the Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, in the area to the north.
Shortly after Lambert's (and Plectrude's) family had murdered Dodo, a domesticus of Pepin of Heristal and father of Pepin's mistress Alpaida
Alpaida
Alpaida was Pepin II's concubine and mother to Pepin II's two illegitimate sons, Charles Martel and Childebrand .-External links:*...
, Dodo's relatives murdered Lambert on his estate, the Gallo-Roman villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
that has become Liège. Lambert thus became a martyr for his defence of marital fidelity, denouncing Pepin's liaison with Alpaida
Alpaida
Alpaida was Pepin II's concubine and mother to Pepin II's two illegitimate sons, Charles Martel and Childebrand .-External links:*...
, daughter of Dodo, who was to become the mother of Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
(CE "Saint Lambert").
Although Lambert was buried at Maastricht, his successor as bishop, Hubertus
Hubertus
Saint Hubertus or Hubert , called the "Apostle of the Ardennes" was the first Bishop of Liège...
, translated his relics to Liège, to which the see of Maastricht was eventually moved. The shrine became St. Lambert's Cathedral
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège was the cathedral of Liège, Belgium, until 1794, when its destruction began...
, destroyed in 1794. Its site is the modern Place Saint-Lambert. Lambert's tomb is now located in the present Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral, otherwise St. Paul's Cathedral, Liège, in Liège, Belgium, is the seat of the Bishopric of Liège.-St. Paul's Cathedral:...
.
His feast day in 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...
calendar is September 17. The Lambertusfest in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
has long been a folk holiday, celebrated for two weeks culminating on the eve of the 17th of September. Children build "Lambertus pyramids" of branches, decorated with lanterns and lamps around which they dance and sing traditional songs (known as Lambertussingen or Käskenspiel).
External links
- Das Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon: Lambert (Lantpert) von Maastricht (von Lüttich)
- Catholic Encyclopedia: "Saint Lambert"