CUNEGUNDA, Saint. - Empress of Germany, daughter of Sigfrid count of Luxembourg, b. ca. 978, d. at Kaufungen near Kassel (Hesse) on 3 March 1033 or 1039. Between 998 and 1000 she married Henry, duke of Bavaria who was later emperor (Henry II: 1002-24), himself also a saint, with whom, according to legend, she lived in virginal continence, while some critics, on the authority of the contemporary Rodulfus Glaber (MGH, Scriptores, VII, p. 62; PL 142, 645) think rather of C.'s impotence.

The two saints founded the diocese and the cathedral of Bamberg, and C. the Benedictine monastery of Kaufungen, into which she retired after Henry's death (1025). She was buried beside Henry in the cathedral of Bamberg. Innocent III canonized her on 3 April 1200; the bull is found in the Acta SS. Martii, I, col. 279 ff. The Roman Martyrology commemorates her on 3 March.

Bibliography6 works

BIBL.: Legenda written for the canonization in Acta SS. Martii, I, Paris 1865, coll. 271-77; PL 140, 205-20; MGH, Scriptores, IV, pp. 814-28; J. P. Toussaint, Geschichte der hl. Kunigunde von Luxemburg, Paderborn 1901; H. Müller, Das heilige Kaiserpaar Heinrich und Kunigunde, Steyl 1903 (both without critical method); see also the bibliography of ENRICO II, saint.

Livario Oliget

@incollection{ec4_cunegonda_santa, author = {Oliger, Livario}, title = {Cunegonda, santa}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {IV}, pages = {1054}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/cunegonda-santa} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Cunegunda, Saint

About this entry