Saint Théodechilde

Theodechilde, also known as Thechilde or Thichilde, from the Germanic Theut-hild (born c. 523, died 563), was the daughter of Theuderic I (born c. 485–490, died 534), who was himself a son of Clovis. She is cited as a king's daughter, a king's sister, and a king's wife. A sister of Theudebert married Hermegisclus, King of the Warni, and subsequently his son after the former's death—a son who repudiated her shortly thereafter. The name of this woman is not cited, but it is specified that she had churches built. Flodoard, who identifies Theodechilde as the daughter of Theuderic I, states that she gave several lands to the Church of Reims. Theodechilde was a contemporary of Mapinius and Egidius, bishops of Reims in 550 and from 573 to 590, respectively. Furthermore, she held lands in Auvergne, which establishes another connection between her and the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif in Sens, which she founded and which also long possessed lands in that region. All documents mentioning her are copies, some of which, such as the charter of Clovis mentioning his donations to Theodechilde for the founding of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif, are of questionable credibility. Gregory of Tours cites the marriage of Theuderic to a Burgundian princess, daughter of King Sigismund, commonly identified as Queen Suavegotha; he also cites their daughter, Theut-hild. As this marriage took place after 507, it is probable that she was born after that date. As alternative options, Abbot Chabau provides 498 and 560 as birth and death dates. A third indication of her birth period is found in a charter of Clovis concerning donations to his "daughter" Theodechilde for the founding of the aforementioned monasteries: Theodechilde allegedly requested lands from Clovis to found an abbey "in the third year after the baptism (of Clovis)," thus at the earliest in 499 and likely a few years later. However, this charter, of which only copies have survived, is widely considered a forgery.