Fulrad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Fulrad
A statue of Fulrad at Lièpvre
Abbot
Born	710 Alsace, Frankish Empire
Died	(784-07-16)July 16, 784
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church
Feast	July 16

Saint Fulrad (French: Fulrade; Latin: Fulradus) was born in 710 into a rich family. He died on July 16, 784. Fulrad was the Abbot of Saint-Denis, a very important monastery. He also advised two powerful kings: Pippin III and Charlemagne.

Historians believe Fulrad was very important. He helped the Frankish Kingdom become strong. He also gives us a good look into early Carolingian society, which was the time of Charlemagne's family. Fulrad always supported Charlemagne, especially when the Saxons attacked the Frankish lands. He also worked closely with the papacy (the Pope and his advisors). When he became Abbot of Saint-Denis in the mid-700s, Fulrad's life became important to many historical figures. Saint Fulrad's Feast Day is on July 16.

Fulrad's Life and Influence

Fulrad was born in Alsace, a region in the Frankish lands, in 710. He joined the abbey of Saint-Denis, a famous monastery. In 750, he was chosen to be its abbot, which is like the head of the monastery.

As abbot, Fulrad made the abbey much bigger. He used money he inherited from his parents. He also got back land that had been taken from the abbey by Charles Martel. Fulrad used his position to become a very powerful leader.

He started new monasteries in areas like Alsace-Lorraine and Alemannia. Each of these monasteries had relics, which are special objects connected to saints. This made them popular places for pilgrimage, where people would travel to visit. Fulrad made money from these visits, but his personal wealth also belonged to the monastery.

Because he had so many monasteries, Fulrad asked Pope Stephan II for a special bishop. This bishop would help provide religious services at the other monasteries, since Fulrad's main job was to lead Saint-Denis. Fulrad also advised other Frankish bishops. He rose high in the ecclesiastical (church) leadership. He became the chief chaplain for both Pippin III and Charlemagne. Later, he became their main advisor.

Fulrad had a very close relationship with the royal family. He served both Pippin III and Charlemagne. He played a big part in shaping the history of Western European history. For example, he helped convince the Franks to side with the Papacy instead of the Byzantine Empire. This smart move eventually led to Charlemagne becoming Emperor in 800. However, Fulrad died in 784, so he didn't see this happen.

Fulrad's Important Document

Fulrad wrote a document called Fulrad's Testament (or Fulrad's Testimonium). This document gives us a lot of information about early Carolingian society. In this "testament," Fulrad described different places. He wrote about the religious, political, and economic differences between towns.

Historians find Fulrad's account of early Carolingian history very important. The places he put under the royal abbey's control helped protect against powerful nobles in the east. These eastern lands were also important for trade and money. The abbey of Saint-Denis could gain a lot by expanding there.

Fulrad's testament also helps us learn about the lives of people from the Carolingian era. He named specific people and traced their family lines. This part of the testament is so important that one historian, Alain Stoclet, wrote a whole chapter about the family histories mentioned by Abbot Fulrad.

Fulrad and King Pippin III

Abbot Fulrad was a key advisor to Pippin III. Their connection was more than just friendship. They were two strong leaders who helped each other and respected each other's work. Historians have written about this close bond. We can see examples of it in their dealings with the Pope and in Pippin's burial plans.

Working with the Pope

Fulrad met with the papacy to make sure Pippin, not Childeric III, should be the king of the Franks. Even before this, in 750, Fulrad was Pippin's advisor and chief chaplain. Pippin already trusted Fulrad a lot. So, he gave Fulrad the very important job of convincing Pope Zachary to agree to a "change in government."

The Codex Carolinus, a collection of letters, has a summary of Pope Zachary's answer to Fulrad. It said that "it was better to call the person who has the royal power king rather than he who does not have it." This meant the Pope agreed with Pippin. In 751, Pippin forced Childeric to go to a monastery and made himself king.

Pippin's Land Gift of 755

After Pippin became King, he ordered a special document to be written. This document gave land from the Lombard king to the Pope. It included towns like Ravenna, San Marino, Gubbio, and parts of Northern Umbria.

Fulrad himself traveled to these towns, and they welcomed him. After this, Fulrad went to Rome. He placed the "keys of the ceded cities" on the tomb of Saint Peter. He also brought the official document written in Pippin's name. The document was a bit unclear, according to church writings. However, the Pope did benefit from it, gaining control over regions like Ravenna, Cesena, Comacchio, Fano, Pesaro, San Marino, Forlimpopoli, Urbino, and Montefeltro. By the time this happened, Pippin had left Italy. He felt confident that the towns were in Fulrad's care, and the Pope would be able to manage them.

Pippin III's Burial

Abbot Fulrad had such a big impact on Pippin III that Pippin's final wishes were connected to Fulrad and his abbey of Saint-Denis. Pippin became very sick during a military campaign in Aquitaine. He traveled to Saint-Denis, where he wanted to be buried. Pippin asked to be buried at Saint-Denis next to the saint. He also wanted to be buried at the abbey where Fulrad, his chief chaplain and a strong political friend, was the abbot.

Fulrad and Emperor Charlemagne

Fulrad was also the chief chaplain and advisor to Charlemagne. He helped Charlemagne with many important matters. This included managing the Frankish lands, fighting the Saxons, and working with the papacy.

Supporting Charlemagne's Kingdom

Charlemagne gave lands in Alsace and Alemannia to the abbey of Saint-Denis. Fulrad had already expanded the abbey's interests in these areas. Charlemagne gave Fulrad's abbey many riches and more land, including the valuable royal estate of Herbrechtingen. He also helped build up the area around the abbey. This was to support armies on military campaigns. Charlemagne could rely on Fulrad, his personal chief chaplain and advisor, instead of just local officials.

Fulrad and the Pope

Royal Representative and Gifts

The Pope declared that there would be a Missus. This person would deal with problems the Pope had written about in his letters. In one letter, the Pope said that Charlemagne promised to send someone with "Royal Mandatum." This person would act with the king's power in Italy. Fulrad was the most experienced Carolingian expert on Italian matters. So, the abbot of Saint-Denis became the Missus, even though he was still the Abbot of Saint-Denis.

Fulrad's Role in Royal Policy

Fulrad was by Charlemagne's side as his advisor during important discussions with Pope Hadrian. From late 774 to mid-775, Fulrad stayed at court and supported Charlemagne. This was until Charlemagne left to invade Saxony. During this time, Charlemagne approved many charters (official documents) that benefited Fulrad's abbey of Saint-Denis. These charters were given because Fulrad successfully guided Charlemagne's policies in Italian affairs. This also shows how important the monastery of Saint-Denis was in Charlemagne's kingdom-wide government.

Building the Frankish Kingdom

Fulrad is seen as a key figure who truly helped the growing kingdom of Francia develop. One historian notes that Fulrad was one of the few important figures from Neustria (a part of the Frankish kingdom) to support the new ruling family.

Fulrad's monastery of Saint-Denis became the burial place for Carolingian kings and queens. It became the "royal mausoleum" for the Frankish kings. Abbot Fulrad and the first Carolingian kings tore down the older church of Saint-Denis. They then built a new, grander church, which was the first real Carolingian church.

New Basilica of Saint-Denis

Abbot Fulrad oversaw the building of the new basilica of Saint-Denis. Construction started in 754. It was finished under Charlemagne, who was there when it was officially opened in 775. We know a lot about this Carolingian church today because of excavations (digs) that began in 1937.

The church was about eighty meters long. It had an impressive front (called a facade), a main hall (nave) divided into three parts by marble columns, a cross-shaped section (transept), and a rounded end (apse) at the east. Fulrad's church had elements like arches and transepts. It also had classical designs, strong Byzantine influences, and metal work throughout. During important religious events, the church was lit with 1250 lamps.

This same basilica is where many Merovingian and Carolingian kings and queens were buried in crypts below. Later, in 1137, Abbot Suger (1081-1155) decided to rebuild Fulrad's old church. He thought the old design from 775 was outdated. The new church was finished in 1144 and was a major architectural achievement. This is when Gothic architecture was born.

Death and Successors

Abbot Fulrad died on July 16, 784. After Fulrad's death, Charlemagne chose two new abbots for Saint-Denis. They were Angilram, the bishop of Metz, and Hildebald of Cologne. They were chosen to continue the important work that Abbot Fulrad had started.