Adalard of Corbie

Saint Adalard of Corbie was abbot of the monastery of Corbie in Picardy and a cousin of Charlemagne. He was born around 751 and reposed in early January 827, at the age of seventy-⁠three.

He was a grandson of Charles Martel and received a good education at the palace school in Aachen, becoming count of the palace while still young. At twenty he entered the monastery of Corbie. He sought deeper seclusion at Monte Cassino, but Charlemagne ordered him back to Corbie, where he was elected abbot, and made him adviser to his son Pepin, king of Italy.

In 817 Emperor Louis the Pious, suspecting him of sympathy with Bernard, the son of Pepin, banished him to the island of Noirmoutier. After seven years the emperor acknowledged his mistake and made him one of his chief advisers. Adalard built several hospitals and, with his brother Wala, founded in 822 the monastery of Corvey, New Corbie, in Westphalia. He fell ill on the road back from Corvey to Corbie three days before Christmas and reposed on 1 January. His life was written soon afterwards by Paschasius Radbertus.

He is honoured as patron of many churches and towns in France and along the lower Rhine. He is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 2 January (new style).