Bertarius of Verdun (Bertarius Virdunensis)
(Deeds of the Bishops of Verdun — Continuation)
Bishop Barnoinus and Berengarius
After him there was Bishop Barnoinus, of whose life, through the negligence of his predecessors, only the memory of his name remains.
Then Lord Berengarius, kinsman of Emperor Otto the First, a noble and capable man, became bishop of this city. He restored to a better condition the basilica of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, in which rests the body of Saint Vito with his predecessors and successors, and he enlarged and adorned it. He expelled the clerics living there and serving in many base capacities, and established monks to live there, over whom he appointed as abbot one named Humbert, formerly a cleric of the same Church, but at that time, by the impulse of divine love, a monk at Saint-Apre of Toul, and made their Father by God. For their sustenance he gave the estate of Scantia with its jurisdiction, the abbey of Saint Amantius in Aquitaine, and many other properties of this bishopric.
He lived in the times of the most Christian King Otto of Germany, of whom it was said that for the triumph of the Church Otto began to reign and to advance. He was succeeded by Otto the Second to the empire, so that the age might flourish. When this one died, he was buried by his own people without the Romans knowing, and he rests buried at Aachen.
This same Berengarius of good memory lived many days in the episcopate, and was buried in the basilica of Saint Peter on the left side of the choir, above whom an altar has been placed up to the present day. I myself saw the chasuble in which he was clothed in his sepulchre, which was afterwards torn from his body.
Moreover, I have heard from many witnesses that his foot became withered after death. For one day, as he was going down to the church of the Blessed Mary, he found a certain cleric prostrate on the ground celebrating Mass to the Blessed Mary. He struck him with his foot to make him rise. But that man rose and, seeing him, bore it patiently. The following night, however, as the bishop lay sleeping in his bed, the Virgin Mary appeared with the blessed Tecla: 'Strike,' she said, 'the foot of this man, Tecla, and be the avenger of my cleric's injury.' From the blow, his foot began to burn from that very hour, and he became a monk in the aforesaid place.
The aforesaid bishop gave Bellamvilla to the brothers of Saint Mary. Also in his times, in the aforesaid church of the blessed Vito, the body of Saint Firmin was revealed and discovered through the most devout woman Eugenia, and, for the protection of the citizens and for the amplification of the reputation of their virtues, at the petition of the aforesaid Abbot Humbert, it was honorably translated to the estate of Blaviniscum, formerly a royal estate.
3. Bishop Wiefridus
3. After his departure, there arose Lord Wiefridus as bishop, a German man from the regions of Bavaria. He most diligently sought out the deeds of his predecessors, and, embracing their way of life, desired to imitate them by whatever means he could. When he read much about their virtue and good reputation, and thoroughly investigated the condition of this church and by whom it had been enriched, he found that Bishop Paul above all others had exalted it by conferring possessions upon it and had made it rich from a state of poverty.
For outside the walls of the city there was a church in honor of Saint Saturnus, where his body lay buried, situated above the river, in which he bestowed many benefits through the merit and intercession of his confessor. For from his tomb oil truly flowed, by whose touch many sick people were restored to health, and the inhabitants said that his sepulchre was weeping because it seemed to be neglected. He therefore devoutly vowed to magnify this church zealously and, as he was pious in his intent, in honor of so great a bishop. He soon raised it from its foundations and, God willing, completed it, and at the petition of the citizens, not unmindful of his vow, he placed monks there to serve God day and night and his holy confessor Paul, and he consecrated the high altar in honor of Saint Paul the Apostle.
He took up the body of Saint Paul from the sepulchre on the fifth day before the Kalends of September and fittingly placed it in a silver reliquary. He adorned the temple with the finest ornaments and relics, and from the resources of this Church he provided sustenance for the monks, and he conferred upon them the better churches of his estates. He assigned the excellent estate of Wasnaum for their stipends and gave as many other things as he could. He made a golden panel before the altar of Saint Mary, and adorned the face of the church with ornaments and crowns. He lived in the time of Otto the Third, who from the cradle took up the scepter of the Romans and was given over to the liberal arts; under whose rule there was salvation and glory for the world.
After many years in which he lived in this episcopate had passed, he rested in peace on the second day before the Kalends of September, and was buried in the monastery which he himself had built in honor of Saint Paul, beside the altar on the right side. Nor did I think it should be passed over in silence what I heard from the abbot of that same place. One day, when the lord bishop was leaving his city for a pressing reason, he came to the estate of the brothers called Wandersalis. When night fell and he was detained there and all his men had given their limbs to sleep, he was immediately pursued by Count Sigebert, and, as a greater calamity befalls those who are unaware, he was surrounded by his soldiers and captured. But when his men rushed to arms, his nephew Richerus was immediately killed and the bishop was led into captivity. The count, soon excommunicated by all the bishops, was at last moved by repentance, and begging the bishops for mercy, first suffered bodily punishment, then pledged a sum of money to the lord bishop by a named day. From this abundance of metal he adorned the church of Saint Mary, among other deeds, with crowns arranged so that if you touched the first by hand, all the way to the last would move.
When such a pastor had been taken away, many adversities befell this city and tribulations among the people. For Lothair, king of the Franks, since the state was less defensible under the aforesaid young prince of the Romans, Otto, besieged this city, but by God's will he did not take it; nevertheless he laid waste everything around the city. When our men went out against him to battle, they were defeated by his army, and many were captured and led away. For their liberation, a certain Gobert, a most powerful knight, delivered the keys of the city to the king.
4. Bishop Hugo
4. It happened after these events that a certain cleric named Hugo received the episcopate. When he had entered the city, he called the servants to him and inquired how they lived. When they answered that they utterly lacked the resources that had belonged to the bishop, and pointed out the destruction of the estates from whose revenues he used to live, he immediately mounted his horse and departed.
5. Bishop Adalbero, Son of Beatrice
5. When he had departed, our citizens received without a royal gift Adalbero, the son of Beatrice, the most noble duchess, mother of Duke Theoderic. When he had held the episcopate for some time, upon the death of the bishop of Metz, he betook himself to that same city, having abandoned this episcopate. When our men came to him, he received them with honor and returned the pastoral staff.
6. Bishop Adalbero, Son of Godfrey
6. He was succeeded by Lord Adalbero, the son of Count Godfrey, who was the grandfather of Duke Godfrey who later, having married the wife of Prince Boniface, became the marquis of the Italians. This man was truly honorable and most humble, but very infirm, and he suffered such weakness of body that in the very same year of his blessing he sought Salerno for the sake of his health, with our men accompanying him. When he stayed there and could not be cured by the physicians, he returned to Italy, and there, as death pressed upon him, having called all his men, he gave the abbey of Saint Germanus to a certain Rodulf, his nephew, who lived until the times of Lord Bishop Richard, full of days; and distributing many other things to his men, he died.
His body, brought from Italy by his brother Count Frederick, was placed in his church in the choir of Saint Mary before the steps, and is venerated there with the highest honor and reverence up to the present day. He lived in the episcopate for three and a half years.
In the times of these our bishops, therefore, after the death of Lord Humbert, the first abbot of the church of Saint Vito, the same Church was governed for about sixty years with all honor by illustrious men of remarkable industry: Abbots Adelmar, Adelard, Ermenric, Rohard, Lambert, and Fingenius, until in the times of Lord Bishop Heymo, as we shall say later, the Lord and venerable Father Richard, newly made a monk there, received that same Church to govern — he who had been a canon among the leading men of the Church of Saint Mary of Rheims, and a very devout man.
7. Bishop Heymo
7. The Church of Verdun, widowed of so many aforementioned pastors, deserved from the Germans a pastor by whom it might truly be fed, and a Father by whom it might be kindly nourished and loved — one most noble both in lineage and character, Heymo, whom we mentioned a little earlier. He profited the place entrusted to him no small amount, since he enlarged, adorned, and elevated the church, which was very small, for the most part; since he acquired Superiacum and many other properties given or lent for the prebend of the brothers; and since he also added to his own table and that of his successors Jupilia, which he obtained from Henry the Pacific King by faithfully serving and conducting himself vigorously.
O how great was this man's solicitude toward the churches, since he transformed the church of the blessed John the Baptist, enlarged it once transformed, and had it consecrated once enlarged by the most holy Bishop Maurus; since he established a congregation of nuns there and provided for the congregation's necessities from the resources of the greater church!
He loved the churches, and his people loved them too; he devoted himself to pious works, and his people devoted themselves likewise.
For by his example and at his urging, Provost Amicus built the church of the Holy Cross, installed twelve canons, and provided for their needs from his own estates and from properties acquired elsewhere. Finally, at the bishop's request, he did not refuse to subject that place to Saint Maurus. Provost Dudo also established a church in honor of Saint Lawrence at the castle of Desluwarth, ordained canons, arranged necessities for those ordained, and with great works, great labor, and marvelous splendor brought that castle to completion.
After these things, Father Ermenfridus, arriving from elsewhere, was received like a father by the pious bishop, and being kindly retained and helped, he built the church of Saint Mary Magdalene, and having ordained canons, he provided for their needs with the greatest ardor of labor. Inasmuch as he lacked patrimony, by serving kings, cleaving to princes, submitting himself to all, and with marvelous solicitude invoking God above all, he acquired much. His life benefited him more than money, his pious devotion before God and men more than any possession; his merit profited him more than any patrimony could have.
8. Abbot Richard
8. At the same time, the venerable Father Richard, who was, as we said before, among the leading men of the Church of Rheims, a man of the greatest piety, renouncing the world, became the successor of Abbot Fingenius of this church. He built this church together with Emperor Henry the Great in honor of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul and Saint Vito, and brought it to completion.
The exemplary life of this man made the lives of many exemplary. His devotion instilled religion in those who lacked it, and increased it in those who had it: indeed, whatever this man was profited not only his own subjects but also outsiders in no small measure. He watched over the salvation of others as over his own; he rejoiced in the correction of others as in his own. If anyone was converted, it was his conversion; if anyone did good works, it was his work. Such a life, such a reputation, I say, admonished many to live in Christ, when he was prepared to die to the world.
Nobles regarded themselves as ignoble, the strong considered themselves weak, and, so that they might conform to such a life, they strove utterly not to be whatever they were. By his example, by his desire, I say, the offspring of Duke Godfrey especially renounced the world. For the venerable Count Frederick commended himself as a son to this Father, subjected himself as a servant to this lord; he increased the church with estates; to whom he freely gave not only his possessions but also himself.
And since the occasion has presented itself regarding Count Frederick, it pleases us, by way of example, to recount the conversion of the blessed Father at somewhat greater length, especially since we believe it will be welcome to many.
9. Richard and Count Frederick
9. These most illustrious men, namely the venerable Father Richard and the renowned Count Frederick, resolved together by God's gift to have the beginning of their conversion in this church. At that time the church itself was poor in resources, cramped in buildings, hardly praiseworthy in its religious observance, inhabited by no more than seven Scottish monks under their abbot, nevertheless a man of great holiness, named Fingenius.
Therefore, since the new foundation, which burned with pious zeal for its religious purpose, was saddened at finding it nowhere, it entered their minds that what they desired they should seek with ardent heart at Cluny from the holy Father Odilo. When they had arrived there and laid before so great a Father the purpose of their minds, that sagacious and industrious man quickly replied that they ought not to dwell where nothing remained that might be corrected by their example, but rather they should return to their own place, so that through them a harvest pleasing to the Lord might bear fruit for those people.
When they had returned, won over by his persuasions, and yet grieved from the heart that their fellow inhabitants could not be corrected according to their wishes from day to day, they again formed a plan to migrate elsewhere; but Almighty God, whose disposition no one can oppose, ordained it differently than they had wished.
For at that time there was a certain devout woman, leading a solitary life in an anchorhold by the church of the Blessed Mary, zealously devoted day and night to prayers, fasting, and vigils. On that very night when the plan to migrate had been formed, she was divinely commanded to leave that cell in which she had shut herself away for many years and to announce to the abbot that he should bind those aforesaid men — the only thing left to do — with monastic profession without delay, lest the Church lose them entirely.
She, obeying these commands, while all the people marveled, came out from her cell and reported what she had seen or heard to the abbot. He immediately summoned them and compelled them to be confirmed in stability according to the precept of the Rule. After three months, however, perhaps as the final hour pressed, Abbot Fingenius died and was honorably buried in the church of Saint Felix outside the walls of the city of Metz.
When he was buried, this venerable Father was appointed abbot by God's ordinance. How greatly the church was increased in honors in his times, how it shone with religious devotion, with what buildings it grew — this is plain for all to see. Matilda, Countess of Saxony, burned with no small benevolence toward this Father and, for the Father's sake, toward this place. She bestowed many ornaments; with crosses and golden panels and embroidered work, together with her son Count Hermann, she adorned the altar; and she furnished the church with many mutual services of her redemption and salvation, by which it is still honored and greatly commended.
This countess, married to Count Godfrey, bore five sons by him, namely Adelbero, bishop of our city after Wiefrid, and the aforementioned Counts Frederick and Hermann, as well as two who were distinguished by ducal lineage, Godfrey and Gozelo.
The aforementioned Hermann gave to blessed Vito the estate of Rogeri and Felsica with the jurisdiction called Hasluth in the county of Brabant, and Munau with half the market of Mouzon; also thirty manses with a large household in Harvia, two churches with a manorial chapel in Geavia, and many other things. Their father gave Borracum and Forbacom, and Duke Godfrey also gave the estate of Fontagia to the oft-mentioned saint in memory of his brothers.
The above-mentioned Count Frederick also, while he was still in secular attire, on his way to Jerusalem for the remedy of his soul, restored to the prebend of the brothers of Saint Mary all the hundred-courts of those jurisdictions by which they were greatly troubled. He built stone towers for the church of blessed Vito from his own resources and conferred many other goods on that same place, where he rests buried with his two brothers.
Lietardus also, nephew and kinsman of Emperor Conrad, giving Bailodium, became a monk under the same reverend Father in the same place. The pious Father Richard lived until the times of Lord Bishop Richard, whom he received from the sacred font of baptism, and he governed the monastery for forty-two years, venerable in life and lovable to all by the integrity of his life.
Marvelous was the perseverance of this Father in his religious purpose, to which the whole Church strove to aspire and to cleave. All France rejoices in his institutions, and as long as it retains the vestiges of religion, the land of Lotharingia triumphs. What more? For our city, the greater the benefit of his life, the greater was his death — I will not say an inconvenience, but so much the greater was the misfortune that followed. The sweet memory of this man endures not only in our Church, but throughout all France and Lotharingia.
These Fathers, who conferred so many good things upon the Church, lived under Lord Bishop Heymo, who held the episcopate for thirty-six years.
10. Bishop Raimbert
10. So pious a bishop was succeeded by Bishop Raimbert, careful to defend the goods of the Church even if he could not increase them, of no small service to all his people, a friend of religion and of those who belonged to his order. He was most ardent about honorably building a church for the most holy Bishop Agericus. He had scarcely begun the desired work, scarcely installed monks, scarcely provided for necessities, when he undertook a pilgrimage out of desire for the Holy Sepulchre; on which journey he died, and was buried on the road at Belgrade, then finally brought back by his canons, namely Bernerus son of Constantius and Bernard, with marvelous zeal, and received eagerly by his citizens. Under the time of the most pious Bishop Richard and Abbot Baldric, he was honorably buried in the church of Saint Martin and Saint Agericus which he himself had begun.
To this church of Saint Mary he gave two excellent copes and two fans and other honorable ornaments with great devotion. He lived happily in the episcopate for fourteen years.
11. Bishop Richard
11. The grief of the whole city at the death of so great a bishop was mitigated by the canonical succession of the venerable Bishop Richard, whose kindness, whose energy, I say, was the hope of the honored city, the hope of retaining religion, the hope of preserving ecclesiastical order. He received his country like a duke and the Church like a pastor, provident toward both.
Yet with singular solicitude for peace he received the episcopate in the time of King Henry, son of Emperor Conrad, considering it a burden and not an honor, a labor and not rest, showing singular zeal toward those entrusted to him, not relaxation or idleness. What belonged to the bishop he carried out vigorously, adorning the walls of the church — the interior ones with life, merit, and character, the exterior ones with fitting ornaments.
In their furnishing, in their expense he was singularly passionate, postponing all other vows and cares for them. Moreover, to the church of Saint Mary, over which he presided, he gave with great zeal two crosses made of gold and precious stones, six silver candlesticks, a thurible of three pounds of gold, which Henry, not yet holding the monarchy of the Roman scepter, had ordered to be made as a most honorable work on account of the great love he bore toward him.
The same venerable bishop gave to the church of blessed Vito his allodial property, namely Haroniscurtis, and what he possessed at the Lady Mary's church, for the love of his foster-father, the distinguished Abbot Richard. The aforementioned Henry also gave to the same bishop an excellent incense-box with a precious gem, two pontifical chasubles honorably composed with gold, and seven others without gold. The same bishop acquired stoles decorated with gold, and others without gold, and seven white ones with amices trimmed with gold embroidery.
He gave many copes, but fitted with gold two that had been given by Bishop Raimbert. He gave many palliums, and also contributed twelve excellent dorsals with one very precious curtain. He redeemed one pallium with gold embroidery that had previously belonged to the church, two banners, one chalice of onyx, and another of crystal which he had entirely fitted with gold and stones. Also a silver thurible covered with gold, two smaller silver ones, and three hand-towels, one gold, and two crystal pitchers.
In his time the devout man Dean Warmundus gave to this church one cope which the king had given him. He also acquired the allodial estate of Wosophia with all its dependencies from a certain noble widow Raingardis through her grant and a great sum of money, and he bestowed it on the brothers of Saint Mary on the condition that on the day of the Annunciation of the same Virgin they should have a service from it and celebrate it solemnly.
For in his days there was a great dispute between King Henry and Duke Godfrey, who could not otherwise have peace with the king until he returned the hundred-court of Wandelini Curtis and other rights which he at that time held by force in this city to the same bishop and church.
For there was peace and truth in this episcopate; in his days all enjoyed peace both within and without. O how greatly the city would have flourished and rejoiced if it had had this bishop continuously! How greatly the Church would have triumphed if it had deserved to keep him alive!
His life, profiting not only himself but all others in every way — the more joy it brought, the more grief did his death, coming bitterly and unhappily in the seventh year, bring; and after the death of the venerable Abbot Richard in that same second year, it brought grievous misfortune.
How longingly this venerable bishop endured the death is attested by all who were present at the funeral rites of the oft-mentioned abbot. For when this same venerable Father was pressed by his final illness, the lord bishop visited him daily, weeping and grieving that he would be left behind as a survivor. Finally, on the last day, arriving at the break of dawn and seeing him already drawing his final breath, at his nod he approached the altar of Saint Lawrence to celebrate Mass for his passing. After saying it, he returned to the Father, and making his last farewell, he fell upon him with kisses and tears.
Then, having commended the soul of so great a friend to God, he washed his body with his own hands and clothed him most honorably from his own possessions. On the third day after the vigils had been completed, while the venerable bishop was lowering him into the tomb after the celebration of the Masses, kissing his breast, he prayed that he would intercede for him so that he would not be left surviving him for a year.
That he obtained this is proven by true signs, since the venerable abbot departed on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of July, and the venerable bishop himself followed within the space of half a year, namely on the seventh day before the Ides of November. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory be continual for the living and for posterity, forever and ever. Amen.
Bishop Richard of the Blessed Mary died in this city of Verdun, and was buried on the left side of the greater church of Saint Mary beside the choir, at whose feet there was an altar consecrated in honor of Saints Nicholas and Germanus, in which before the fire he himself had consecrated another in honor of Saint Nicholas and all confessors. May these and all the saints intercede for his sins before the Lord our God, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Now, however, in the middle of the monastery of Saint Mary, the bishop himself rests in Christ, the venerable Richard, translated by Lord Theoderic, his successor happily reigning as bishop, with all veneration, the funeral rites being solemnly repeated as if he had departed this life on that very day.
This above-named Richard, before obtaining the consecration of his episcopate, as if his sins demanded it, grieved like a father that a miserable calamity had befallen the city: that the palaces had been burned, the buildings of his predecessors utterly destroyed, and whatever had formerly been for glory was reduced to ruin, and whatever was for his own honor and that of his fellow bishops was destined for wretched destruction.
How greatly he grieved is testified by the speedily accomplished rebuilding. O how provident toward his own salvation, how solicitous toward the redemption of his people, since for the soul of his father Count Hildrad, who was surnamed Hecelinus, a military man, a vigorous man in the world, he handed over by hereditary right the estate of Theon with all its dependencies to Saint Peter and Saint Vito.
Since he also legally added his share from the estate of Mario to Saint Mary Magdalene for himself and his people — for the merit, I say, of the devout priest Ermenfrid — and to show his greater affection he also obtained from his co-heirs that the same transfer of their shares be made.
Once consecrated in the episcopate, he began to be more devout in his life and conduct; having become richer in the world, he began to be more generous to the churches in increasing their benefices. For he devoutly gave to Saint Mary Magdalene half the benefice with jurisdiction at Orna, which had long been held by the Church through his predecessors and by himself. He added to the same church one estate of excellent allodial land situated in the city, and with no less zeal he obtained the assent and transfer from his co-heirs.
The predecessor of this devout Father, Raimbert, devout toward the city, toward the church, as has been said, was most zealous, who restored the very small church of Saint Martin, rebuilt it after it was destroyed, and enlarged it in rebuilding, and he devoutly consecrated it to the blessed Bishop Agericus, having installed monks there, before the work was completed. So great was his diligence in elevating this church, and so great was his persistence in carrying out the work, that he did not neglect or delay to release and make free the place itself, which was subject to Saint Paul and designated for the monks' prebend. But he had promised to make recompense for the said church, if the hope of a longer life had been extended to him. But his death, coming prematurely, frustrated his intention and cut short the desire he had.
This matter moved the monks of Saint Paul, both with zeal to recover their property and with a greater desire to subject that same place to their own, into lawsuits, disputes, and complaints; and so that they might obtain their goal more easily, by bringing their case to the Roman Curia, no difficulty, no importunity deterred them.
Bishop Richard, the singular guardian of piety and the foremost promoter of ecclesiastical honor, shared Raimbert's desire as his own and his zeal as his own, since he restored to them at his estate of Jupilia a benefice equal to or greater in value. With this gift confirmed by royal charters and apostolic privileges, and with freedom acquired for that place — namely the church of Saint Agericus — he resolved all complaint. This fruit, this honor his episcopate, shorter than his flock had hoped for, conferred upon his place.
And what if his life had been longer than their desires? According to the Apostle, Christ was for him to live, and according to the same Apostle, to desire the episcopate was to desire a good work — this he demonstrated by no small execution of deeds.
12. Bishop Theoderic
12. He was succeeded by Lord Theoderic, a German man, a canon of the Church of Basel, in whose times this Church suffered many adversities. For in the second year of his episcopate, the city of Verdun was burned by Duke Godfrey and Count Baldwin, together with the monastery of the blessed Mother of God Mary. By this burning the city suffered great loss.
In his times, after the passing of the venerable Father Abbot Richard, Lord Walerannus received this monastery to govern.
Robert, Bishop of Metz — Historical Note
Robert, also called Ruodpert or Rupert, born of a noble Alemannic family, brother of Wido who was honored with the title of count in a diploma of Emperor Arnulf, bound himself to the Rule of Saint Benedict for the monastery of Maurmoutier in the abbey of Saint Gall.
There he was taught letters by Notker, the master of the schools, to whom he addressed several letters in which he congratulated himself on his monastic profession; he asked his parents for small gifts for his teachers; he informed Abbot Burkard, who was then absent, about the discovery of a domestic theft. On account of his excellent qualities he was promoted to the episcopal dignity, and he received consecration from Metropolitan Ratbod in the cathedral church of Saint Stephen of Metz, on the 22nd of April, 883.
At about that time, four hymns in honor of Saint Stephen were sent to him by Notker, a monk of Saint Gall. A certain Stephen, bishop of Liege, composed a little book from many little flowers culled from the divine books, in which he gathered together with useful commentary short pieces with collects and verses for each feast day of the year, and he sent it to Robert to read and approve.
The honor of the pallium was conferred upon him by the Apostolic See, as upon many of his predecessors. In the year 884, in the second indiction, he granted permission to Lodoin, abbot of Gorze, to make an exchange with Verdinosus, a priest of Saint Stephen. To the clerics of Saint Arnulf who had met with Emperor Charles the Fat, requesting confirmation of their goods and restoration of their offerings, he granted letters by order of the same prince around the year 886, in which year he gave permission for the construction of an oratory at Bodo's estate.
He was present at the Council of Mainz in the year 888. In the same year, together with Ratbod of Trier, he presided at another provincial council celebrated in the monastery of Saint Arnulf on the first of May. In the following year he confirmed a donation made at Gorze.
Having inquired of Pope Stephen V whether he could promote to holy orders a certain Flavius whose finger on his left hand the Normans had cut off, he received a response from the pope in Flavius's favor around the year 891.
In the same year, by King Arnulf at the request of Jeotmar, archbishop and archchaplain of Salzburg, the monastery of Saint Savior, situated at Lake Chiemsee, which was then called Owa in the common tongue, previously given to the Church of Metz by earlier kings, was taken away; in its place the abbey of Luxeuil was assigned to that same Church by King Arnulf.
The bishop of Madaura reports that at that time the walls of the city were restored by him on account of the incursion of the Normans. He was present at the Council of Tribur near Mainz, in the year 895, with his fellow provincial bishops, Dado of Verdun and Ladelm of Toul; he had been present shortly before at a consecration performed by Ratbod of Trier.
He commended to him by letter the cleric Heldrad, whom his kinsmen were harassing on account of possessions handed over to the Church of Metz. He himself also received formal letters from Ratbod of Trier, on the 15th of October 906, regarding the admission into the diocese of Metz of a priest named Gissemarus. He was elected as abbot by the monks of Gorze in the year 910.