BATHILD, St. — Queen of France, wife of Clovis II, and mother of Chlotar, Childeric, and Theuderic (Thierry). Of Anglo-Saxon race, she was abducted from the British coasts and sold into slavery in France by pirates. Fate brought her to the court, where Clovis saw her and married her. After her husband’s premature death, Bathild assumed the regency, associating her eldest son, Chlotar, with her in power. During her rule, great influence was wielded by Crodobert, Bishop of Paris, Audoen (Ouen), Bishop of Rouen, the abbot Genesius, and Leodegarius, archdeacon of Poitiers and later Bishop of Autun. Upon the death of Sigebert II, Austrasia was reclaimed for the kingdom.
BATONI, Pompeo — The Fall of Simon Magus. Rome, Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
BATONI, Pompeo — The Fall of Simon Magus. Rome, Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
In numerous religious foundations, Bathild left enduring traces of her piety and generosity. She labored with all her strength against simony, which was corrupting religious life. When Ebroin, master of the palace, sought to assume the guardianship of the young king, Bathild was compelled to retire to the convent of Chelles about the year 673. There she gave an example of humility and faith until her death, which occurred perhaps on January 30, 680.
Her name appears in various ancient manuscripts of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum on January 30, while the Martyrologium Romanum commemorates her on the 26th of the same month.