LEIDRADO (Leidradus, Laidradus). – Archbishop of Lyon, died on 28 December 817 (or 816). A native of Lower Franconia and deacon of the Church of Freising (782), he was summoned to Charlemagne’s court, apparently with the task of serving as librarian. He was an intimate friend of Alcuin, who calls him « consocium et amicum meum » (Ep. 10, in MGH, Epist., IV, p. 36). Favored by the sovereign, he was designated in 798 for the see of Lyon.
Despite the various assignments he received from the Emperor, such as the two journeys to Spain to rescue from Urgel (v.) and Elipandus, L. devoted himself zealously to the diocese, of which he remains one of the great bishops (according to L. Duchesne, the 44th in the series). Alcuin frequently mentions him honorably in his correspondence (cf. MGH, Epist., IV, p. 624: index) and points out his merits in bringing so many adoptionist heretics back to the unity of the faith (cf. loc. cit., p. 346; PL 100, 329). Ado of Vienne describes him as a man solicitous for the dignity of the State and the public good (Chron., a. 799; PL 123, 129). In 811 he was one of the signatories of Charlemagne’s will (Eginhard, Vita Caroli, 33: PL 97, 61). In 816, apparently for reasons of age and health, he resigned the diocese, entrusting it to his chorepiscopus Agobard (v.), and retired to the monastery of S. Medard at Soissons, where he died.
Only two short treatises and four letters remain from L.; the treatises themselves are considered an integral part of the correspondence. Letter I: transmission to the Emperor of the Liber de Sacramenti Baptismo (PL 99, 853-72); various passages are inspired by Tertullian’s De Baptismo. Letter II (ca. 1809-12): transmission to the same Emperor of the supplementary booklet De abrenuntiatione diaboli (PL 99, 873-84), on the baptismal rite of renunciation of Satan; Letter III (ca. 1813 ff.): report to the Emperor concerning his episcopal administration: Letter IV is a consolation to his sister, distressed by the loss of her son and brother.