Grandson of Pepin of Herstal and nephew of Charles Martel, Hugh I was an influential prelate of the 8th century holding the sees of Rouen, Bayeux, and Paris. Despite this plurality of benefices, he distinguished himself by his piety and generosity towards the churches and abbeys he directed. He died holily at the Abbey of Jumièges in 730.
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SAINT HUGH I, BISHOP OF ROUEN AND BAYEUX (730).
Illustrious origins and beginnings in Metz
Hugh was born into the high Carolingian nobility, son of the Count of Champagne and grandson of Pepin of Herstal. He began his ecclesiastical career as primicerius in Metz.
This prelate, of illustrious origin, was the son of Dreux or Dreux ou Brogon Count of Champagne and father of Saint Hugh. Brogon, Count of Champagne, and consequently the grandson o f the famous Pep Pépin d'Héristal Mayor of the palace of the kings of the Franks and protector of Saint Wiron. in of Hers tal. His Plectrode Mother of Saint Hugh. mother Plectrude was th Waraton Mayor of the palace of Neustria. e daughter of Waratto , Mayor Neustrie Historical region of the Frankish kingdom. of the Palace of Neustria. He was first can tor or primice église de Metz Place where Hugues exercised his first ecclesiastical functions. rius of the church of Metz.
An exceptional accumulation of offices
Under the influence of his uncle Charles Martel, he received around 722 the simultaneous administration of the dioceses of Rouen, Bayeux, and Paris, as well as the abbeys of Fontenelle and Jumièges.
Charles Martel Charles-Martel Mayor of the palace, possible ancestor of the saint. , in the overly liberal distribution he made of Church property to laymen and even to officers of his court, did not forget a nephew who could bring much honor to his family. Around the year 722, he gave him the archbishopric o f Rouen, the bishop archevêché de Rouen Principal episcopal see occupied by Hugh. rics o f Bayeux and Pari évêchés de Bayeux One of the dioceses administered by Hugues. s, and the a Paris Diocese entrusted to Hugh by Charles Martel. bbeys of Fontenelle and Jumièges. The misf Jumièges Monastery led by Hugh and the place of his death. ortune of the times and the holy use he made of these benefices may serve as an excuse for Saint Hugh having accepted several of them. Indeed, far from enriching himself personally, he showered the churches he governed with donations. Hugh died holily at Jumièges on Sunday, April 9, 730, and was buried in the monastery church. At the time of the Norman invasion, his relics wer e transp reliques Mortal remains of the saint transferred to Haspres. orted to the church of Notre-Dame d'Haspres, nea r Valen Haspres Site of the translation of relics near Valenciennes. ciennes, in the diocese of Cambrai.
According to the Ga llia Christiana, Gallia Christiana Encyclopedic work on the history of the Church in France. he was the twenty-fifth bishop of Rouen and the fifteenth of Bayeux.
Death and translation of the relics
Hugh died at Jumièges in 730. His relics were later transferred to Haspres to protect them from the Norman invasions.
France pontificale.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Chanter or primicerius of the church of Metz
- Appointment to the Archbishopric of Rouen around 722
- Simultaneous administration of the bishoprics of Bayeux and Paris
- Governance of the abbeys of Fontenelle and Jumièges
- Significant donations to the churches governed
- Death and burial at Jumièges in 730
- Translation of relics to Haspres during the Norman invasion