Frederick of Utrecht
Encyclopedia
Frederick I was Bishop
of Utrecht between 815
/816
and 834
/838
, and a saint
of the Roman Catholic Church
.
Frederick was born around 780
in Friesland
and was a grandson of the Frisian King
Radboud. According to the Catholic Church, he died on July 18, 838, but other sources give dates between 834
and 838
. In any case it is certain that he was murdered.
At a young age he was taught at Utrecht by the clergy, including Bishop Ricfried
. After completing his studies he was ordained priest
and put in charge of converting the remaining heathens in the northern areas of the diocese, but also in areas outside of the diocese. It is known that he preached at Walcheren
and together with St. Odulfus in Stavoren
and its surroundings.
After the death of Ricfried in 815/816, Frederick was chosen as bishop of Utrecht. He was known for his piety and erudition. He maintained a correspondence with Rabanus Maurus
. He was praised for his knowledge and understanding during the synod of Mainz
in 829
. The hagiography
Vita S. Bonifacii has been attributed to him.
It is unclear exactly how Frederick came to an end. It has been established that he was murdered, but by whom and why is unclear. legend
tells that he was stabbed by two men after the offering of the Mass
on July 18 838. According to the 11th and 12th century writers Bishop Otbert of Liège
(PassioFriderici) and William of Malmesbury
, the killers were hired by Empress Judith
, because of Frederiks regular criticism of her dissolute way of life. Later writers like Cesare Baronio and Jean Mabillon
write that the inhabitants of Walcheren, who were hostile to Christianity
, sent them, as a response to Frederick's preaching there.
The latter seems the most plausible. There are no sources of writers of the time showing that the empress was unchaste or immoral, or that Frederick had made that allegation. Moreover Walcheren was quite hostile to the missionaries from Utrecht.
Shortly after his death, Frederick was Canonized
. His feast day is July 18 and he is patron saint
against deafness. He was buried in St. Salvator's Church
in Utrecht.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Utrecht between 815
815
Year 815 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire sign the Treaty of 815 in Constantinople....
/816
816
Year 816 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Frankish king Louis the Pious is crowned emperor by Pope Stephen IV.- Religion :...
and 834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
/838
838
Year 838 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantine emperor Theophilos is heavily defeated at the Battle of Anzen by the Abbasids...
, and a saint
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...
of 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...
.
Frederick was born around 780
780
Year 780 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 780 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 :* Constantine VI becomes Byzantine...
in Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
and was a grandson of the Frisian King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Radboud. According to the Catholic Church, he died on July 18, 838, but other sources give dates between 834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
and 838
838
Year 838 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantine emperor Theophilos is heavily defeated at the Battle of Anzen by the Abbasids...
. In any case it is certain that he was murdered.
At a young age he was taught at Utrecht by the clergy, including Bishop Ricfried
Ricfried
Ricfried was Bishop of Utrecht between 806 and 815/816.It is suspected that he was related to his successors Frederick, Alberik II, Ludger and Balderic. Nothing is known about his reign. He was buried in the St. Salvator Church in Utrecht.-Further reading:...
. After completing his studies he was ordained priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and put in charge of converting the remaining heathens in the northern areas of the diocese, but also in areas outside of the diocese. It is known that he preached at Walcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
and together with St. Odulfus in Stavoren
Stavoren
Stavoren is a small town on the coast of the IJsselmeer, about 5 km south of Hindeloopen. It lies within the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. Stavoren was granted city rights in 1118, making it the oldest city in Friesland...
and its surroundings.
After the death of Ricfried in 815/816, Frederick was chosen as bishop of Utrecht. He was known for his piety and erudition. He maintained a correspondence with Rabanus Maurus
Rabanus Maurus
Rabanus Maurus Magnentius , also known as Hrabanus or Rhabanus, was a Frankish Benedictine monk, the archbishop of Mainz in Germany and a theologian. He was the author of the encyclopaedia De rerum naturis . He also wrote treatises on education and grammar and commentaries on the Bible...
. He was praised for his knowledge and understanding during the synod of Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in 829
829
Year 829 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex conquers Mercia and is recognized as Bretwalda.* The Saracens ravage the coast of Dalmatia....
. The hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
Vita S. Bonifacii has been attributed to him.
It is unclear exactly how Frederick came to an end. It has been established that he was murdered, but by whom and why is unclear. legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
tells that he was stabbed by two men after the offering of the Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
on July 18 838. According to the 11th and 12th century writers Bishop Otbert of Liège
Otbert of Liège
Otbert of Liège was bishop of Liège at the end of the eleventh century . He was a major figure in the financing of the First Crusade, and an expansionist....
(PassioFriderici) and William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
, the killers were hired by Empress Judith
Judith of Bavaria
Judith , was Duchess of Bavaria. She was the eldest daughter of Arnulf the Bad of Bavaria and Judith of Sülichgau....
, because of Frederiks regular criticism of her dissolute way of life. Later writers like Cesare Baronio and Jean Mabillon
Jean Mabillon
Jean Mabillon was a French Benedictine monk and scholar, considered the founder of palaeography and diplomatics.-Early career:...
write that the inhabitants of Walcheren, who were hostile to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, sent them, as a response to Frederick's preaching there.
The latter seems the most plausible. There are no sources of writers of the time showing that the empress was unchaste or immoral, or that Frederick had made that allegation. Moreover Walcheren was quite hostile to the missionaries from Utrecht.
Shortly after his death, Frederick was Canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
. His feast day is July 18 and he is patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
against deafness. He was buried in St. Salvator's Church
St. Salvator's Church
The Sint-Salvator church was one of the five collegiate chapters in the Dutch city of Utrecht. The others were the Dom Church, the St. Peter's Church, the St. John's church and the St. Mary's church. The St. Salvator church was situated on the present-day Dom square right next to the Dom Church....
in Utrecht.