Cunigunde of Luxemburg
Encyclopedia
Saint
Cunigunde of Luxembourg
, O.S.B. (c. 975 – 3 March 1040 at Kaufungen
), also called Cunegundes and Cunegonda, was the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor
Saint Henry II
. She is the Patroness of Luxembourg
; her feast day is 3 March.
Her parents were Siegfried I of Luxembourg (922 – 15 August 998) and Hedwig of Nordgau
(c. 935 – 992). She was a seventh-generation descendant of Charlemagne
. Her marriage to St. Henry was a spiritual one (also called a "white marriage"), that is, they married for companionship alone and by mutual agreement did not consummate their relationship.
Calumniators accused her of scandalous conduct, but her innocence was signally vindicated by Divine Providence
, as she walked over pieces of flaming irons without injury, to the great joy of her husband, the Emperor.
She was very active politically. As the closest adviser of her husband, she took part in Imperial councils.
In 1014, St. Cunigunde went with her husband to Rome and was crowned Empress, receiving together with St. Henry the Imperial Crown
from the hands of Pope Benedict VIII
.
After St. Henry's death in 1024, she became Regent
together with her brother and handed over the Imperial insignia when Conrad II
was elected to succeed her late husband.
As a widow, St. Cunigunde was left comparatively poor, owing to the enormous wealth given away by her and St. Henry in charitable works.
In 1025, exactly one year after the death of her husband, St. Cunigunde retired to Kaufungen Abbey
, in (Hesse
), Germany
, where she entered the monastery
of Benedictine nun
s she had founded at Kaufungen
. She died in 1040, and was buried at Bamberg Cathedral
by her husband. She was canonised by Pope Innocent III
on 29 March 1200.
It was reported in the Papal Bull
that St. Cunigunde fell asleep one night and was carried into bed. Her maid also fell asleep and a candle set the bed on fire
. The blaze awoke both of them and upon Cunigunde executing the Sign of the Cross
, the fire immediately disappeared, saving them from burning.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Cunigunde of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, O.S.B. (c. 975 – 3 March 1040 at Kaufungen
Kaufungen
Kaufungen is a municipality in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated in the narrow valley of the river Losse, surrounded by the steep, wooded hills of the Kaufunger Wald, approx...
), also called Cunegundes and Cunegonda, was the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Saint Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
. She is the Patroness of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
; her feast day is 3 March.
Her parents were Siegfried I of Luxembourg (922 – 15 August 998) and Hedwig of Nordgau
Hedwig of Nordgau
Hedwig of Nordgau was the wife of Siegfried of Luxembourg, first count of Luxembourg and founder of the country. They were married circa 950. She was of Saxon origin but her parentage is not known for sure. Some sources list her as the daughter of count Eberhard IV of Nordgau and Luitgard of...
(c. 935 – 992). She was a seventh-generation descendant 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...
. Her marriage to St. Henry was a spiritual one (also called a "white marriage"), that is, they married for companionship alone and by mutual agreement did not consummate their relationship.
Calumniators accused her of scandalous conduct, but her innocence was signally vindicated by Divine Providence
Divine Providence
In Christian theology, divine providence, or simply providence, is God's activity in the world. " Providence" is also used as a title of God exercising His providence, and then the word are usually capitalized...
, as she walked over pieces of flaming irons without injury, to the great joy of her husband, the Emperor.
She was very active politically. As the closest adviser of her husband, she took part in Imperial councils.
In 1014, St. Cunigunde went with her husband to Rome and was crowned Empress, receiving together with St. Henry the Imperial Crown
Imperial crown
An Imperial Crown is a crown used for the coronation of emperors.- Imperial Crowns with Mitre :-Legal usage:Throughout the Commonwealth Realms, The Crown is an abstract concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government...
from the hands of Pope Benedict VIII
Pope Benedict VIII
Pope Benedict VIII , born Theophylactus, Pope from 1012 to 1024, of the noble family of the counts of Tusculum , descended from Theophylact, Count of Tusculum like his predecessor Pope Benedict VI .Benedict VIII was opposed by an antipope, Gregory...
.
After St. Henry's death in 1024, she became 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...
together with her brother and handed over the Imperial insignia when Conrad II
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Conrad II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death.The son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Count Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, he inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms as an infant when Henry died at age twenty...
was elected to succeed her late husband.
As a widow, St. Cunigunde was left comparatively poor, owing to the enormous wealth given away by her and St. Henry in charitable works.
In 1025, exactly one year after the death of her husband, St. Cunigunde retired to Kaufungen Abbey
Kaufungen Abbey
Kaufungen Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1017 by the Empress Kunigunde, located in Kaufungen in Hessen, Germany.In 1532, during the Reformation, Count Philip I of Hesse appropriated it and gave it, together with Wetter Abbey, to the Hessische Ritterschaft for the care and shelter of...
, in (Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where she entered the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Benedictine nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s she had founded at Kaufungen
Kaufungen
Kaufungen is a municipality in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated in the narrow valley of the river Losse, surrounded by the steep, wooded hills of the Kaufunger Wald, approx...
. She died in 1040, and was buried at Bamberg Cathedral
Bamberg Cathedral
The Bamberg Cathedral is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the seat of the Archbishop of Bamberg....
by her husband. She was canonised by Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
on 29 March 1200.
It was reported in the Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
that St. Cunigunde fell asleep one night and was carried into bed. Her maid also fell asleep and a candle set the bed on fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
. The blaze awoke both of them and upon Cunigunde executing the Sign of the Cross
Sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross , or crossing oneself, is a ritual hand motion made by members of many branches of Christianity, often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of a trinitarian formula....
, the fire immediately disappeared, saving them from burning.