Fulrad
Encyclopedia
Saint Fulrad (710 – July 16, 784) was abbot
of St. Denis' Abbey (from 750). He was born at Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
in Alsace
. He served as a counselor to three Frankish
rulers: Pepin, Carloman
, and Charlemagne
. He also served as court chaplain
, grand-almoner
, and ambassador
.
In 750, Fulrad, along with Saint Burchard
, was instrumental in securing Pope Zachary's
approval for the accession of Pepin as king
of the Franks (Pepin's title had been "mayor of the palace").
Another important process of which Fulrad was an integral part was the turning over of the Exarchate of Ravenna
to the Holy See
in 756, which he negotiated. He also made the Frankish kings supporters of Rome
rather than Constantinople
.
He founded monasteries at Lièpvre
, Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
, and Salonnes
(near Château-Salins
).
Fulrad brought the relics of Saint Vitalis
to Esslingen am Neckar
, making it a destination for pilgrimage
. He also brought the relics of Saint Vitus and Saint Cucuphas to Saint-Denis, where the relics of Cucuphas occupy a place of honor in the apse to the right of those of Saint Denis to this day.
His feast day is celebrated on July 16.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of St. Denis' Abbey (from 750). He was born at Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
Saint-Hippolyte is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is often said to be the birthplace of the 8th century saint and abbot, Fulrad, who built a monastery there...
in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. He served as a counselor to three Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
rulers: Pepin, Carloman
Carloman, son of Pippin III
Carloman I was the king of the Franks from 768 until his death in 771. He was the second surviving son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon...
, and 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...
. He also served as court chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
, grand-almoner
Grand Almoner of France
The Grand Almoner of France was an officer of the French monarchy and a member of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime...
, and ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
.
In 750, Fulrad, along with Saint Burchard
Burchard of Würzburg
Burchard of Würzburg was a Bishop of Würzburg in 741–754.He was an Anglo-Saxon who left England after the death of his kinsfolk and joined Boniface in his missionary labors, some time after 732...
, was instrumental in securing Pope Zachary's
Pope Zachary
Pope Saint Zachary was Pope of the Catholic Church from 741 to 752. A Greek from Calabria, he was the last pope of the Byzantine Papacy...
approval for the accession of Pepin as king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of the Franks (Pepin's title had been "mayor of the palace").
Another important process of which Fulrad was an integral part was the turning over of the Exarchate of Ravenna
Exarchate of Ravenna
The Exarchate of Ravenna or of Italy was a centre of Byzantine power in Italy, from the end of the 6th century to 751, when the last exarch was put to death by the Lombards.-Introduction:...
to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 756, which he negotiated. He also made the Frankish kings supporters of Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
rather than Constantinople
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
He founded monasteries at Lièpvre
Lièpvre
Lièpvre is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.In the 8th century saint and abbot, Fulrad, built a monastery and filled it with relics of Saint Cucuphas.-Geography:...
, Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
Saint-Hippolyte, Haut-Rhin
Saint-Hippolyte is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is often said to be the birthplace of the 8th century saint and abbot, Fulrad, who built a monastery there...
, and Salonnes
Salonnes
Salonnes is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
(near Château-Salins
Château-Salins
Château-Salins is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department...
).
Fulrad brought the relics of Saint Vitalis
Saint Vitalis
Saint Vitalis may refer to:The following Italian saints:* Saint Vitalis of Milan, early Christian martyr* Saint Vitalis, martyred in 250 under the persecution of Decius, whose feast date is January 9...
to Esslingen am Neckar
Esslingen am Neckar
Esslingen am Neckar is a city in the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, capital of the District of Esslingen as well as the largest city in the district....
, making it a destination for pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
. He also brought the relics of Saint Vitus and Saint Cucuphas to Saint-Denis, where the relics of Cucuphas occupy a place of honor in the apse to the right of those of Saint Denis to this day.
His feast day is celebrated on July 16.