Wandelbert of Farfa
Encyclopedia
Wandelbert was the Abbot of Farfa sometime between 757 and 761, one of a series of abbots from Aquitaine
. His abbacy coincided with a troubled period in the abbey's history and the stormy reign of Duke Gisulf of Spoleto
, who seems to have brought some stability to the abbey by the time of his death.
The previous abbot, Fulcoald
, a relative of Wandelbert's, is last mentioned in a charter of October 757, although two later sources taken together place the end of his abbacy in 759. His abbacy is said to have last one year and seven months before he retired to become abbot of the quieter the monastery of Saint Hippolytus in Fermo
, perhaps because of illness. Saint Hippolytus was recent acquisition of Farfa's, confirmed by King Desiderius
only a year after Wandelbert's arrival.
If the date of the inception of Wandelbert's leadership at Farfa and its duration are correct, then he must have been incapable of exercising his authority in April 760, when a monk named Raginfred was acting on behalf of the abbey. It is more probable that Wandelbert had retired—or been forced into retirement—by this point. Wandelbert's successor at Farfa, the former hermit and fellow Aquitainian Alan
, began his abbacy in January 761.
Aquitaine
Aquitaine , archaic Guyenne/Guienne , is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, :Lot et Garonne, :Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes...
. His abbacy coincided with a troubled period in the abbey's history and the stormy reign of Duke Gisulf of Spoleto
Gisulf of Spoleto
Gisulf was the Duke of Spoleto from 759 to 761.In 758, Desiderius, after putting down a revolt of the Duke Alboin, took control of the Duchy of Spoleto until April of the next year, when he appointed Gisulf to govern the duchy in his name. Gisulf reigned until 761, when he died or was deposed...
, who seems to have brought some stability to the abbey by the time of his death.
The previous abbot, Fulcoald
Fulcoald of Farfa
Fulcoald was the fourth Abbot of Farfa from 740. In 739 King Liutprand granted Farfa the right of freedom in abbatial elections, but we do not know if Fulcoald was the product of such a free election or not. Like his predecessor, Lucerius, Fulcoald hailed from Aquitaine, then in southern Francia...
, a relative of Wandelbert's, is last mentioned in a charter of October 757, although two later sources taken together place the end of his abbacy in 759. His abbacy is said to have last one year and seven months before he retired to become abbot of the quieter the monastery of Saint Hippolytus in Fermo
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
, perhaps because of illness. Saint Hippolytus was recent acquisition of Farfa's, confirmed by King Desiderius
Desiderius
Desiderius was the last king of the Lombard Kingdom of northern Italy...
only a year after Wandelbert's arrival.
If the date of the inception of Wandelbert's leadership at Farfa and its duration are correct, then he must have been incapable of exercising his authority in April 760, when a monk named Raginfred was acting on behalf of the abbey. It is more probable that Wandelbert had retired—or been forced into retirement—by this point. Wandelbert's successor at Farfa, the former hermit and fellow Aquitainian Alan
Alan of Farfa
Alan was an Aquitanian scholar, hermit and homilist who served as the sixth Abbot of Farfa in central Italy from 761. Before taking over at Farfa, Alan composed "one of the most successful homiliaries of the late eighth and early ninth centuries", traces of which may be found in the liturgical...
, began his abbacy in January 761.