Saint Audoin

Audoin (Latin: Audoenus; AD 609 – on 24 August 684), venerated as Saint Audoin, was a Frankish bishop, courtier, hagiographer and saint. He authored Vita Sancti Eligii which outlines the life and deeds of Eligius, his close friend and companion in the royal court and the Church. Audoin came from a wealthy aristocratic Frankish family who held lands in the upper Seine and Oise valleys. His father was Authaire (Audecharius). Audoin was a first cousin of Agilbert, bishop of the West Saxons. He spent his childhood at Ussy-sur-Marne, and was then sent to be educated at the Abbey of Saint-Médard de Soissons. From there he went to the court of Chlothar II (d.629), where training both military and literary was given to young noblemen, he served Dagobert I as one of his referendaries (administrators). "Clothar's household seems to have been of particular importance in determining who was to be of political importance for the next two reigns." He was part of a group of young courtiers like Wandrille and Didier of Cahors and was a close friend of Eligius, whose vita he wrote. He and Eligius served as royal envoys to persuade Amadus to baptize Dagobert's son. According to Ian Wood, "Audoin and Eligius were arguably the most influential churchmen in Francia during the seventh century." In 634 Audoin was ordained priest by Dieudonné, Bishop of Mâcon. The following year, he and his brothers Ado and Rado founded Rebais Abbey, on land donated by King Dagobert. Audoin appointed his relative, Agilus, as first abbot. He also took part in the founding of Saint-Wandrille monastery in Rouen, and a nunnery at Fécamp. Fredegar reports that even as court referendary, Audoin had a reputation of being a religious man. According to Wilhelm Levison in his Vita Audoini episcopi Rotomagensis, Audoin spent a year in evangelical exile as a missionary in Spain just prior to becoming bishop. In 641 he succeeded Romanus as bishop of Rouen.