• General Notes

  [charlemegne.FTW]
  
  St. Arnulf, Bishop of Metz 612. Mayor of the Palace and tutor o f Dagobert
  
  His parentage is at best uncertain.
  
  St. Arnulf or Arnoul, Bishop of Metz (c. AD 643) - July 18 Thi s Arnulf, born of noble parents and educated in learning and pie ty, was called to the court of King Theodebert II of Austrasia , in which he was equally admired for prudence in council and va lour in the field: he joined the virtues of a Christian with th e duties of a statesman. Having married a noble lady called Doda , he had by her two sons, Clodulf and Ansegisel; by the latter' s marriage with a daughter of Bd Pepin (called "of Landen") th e Carlovingian kings of France descended from St. Arnoul.  Feari ng the danger of entangling his soul in the many affairs which p assed through his hands, he wanted to retire to the monastery o f Lerins, but was stopped by the clergy and people of Metz deman ding him for their bishop.  He was therefore consecrated about t he year 610, and while fulfilling his new duties with exactness , he continued to take a prominent part in public affairs: as, f or example, on the death of Theodebert and his brother Theirry , when with other nobles he called Clotaire of Neustria to the t hrone of Austrasia.  Ten years later Clotaire divided his domini ons, and giving charge of Austrasia to his son Dagobert, appoint ed St. Arnoul his chief counsellor.  The holy bishop did not fo r long continue to guide this prince; he asked and received perm ission to quit the court, which he had long wished to do (Dagobe rt at first threatened to cut Arnoul's son's head off if he wen t away).  He then resigned his bishopric, and retired with a fri end, St. Romaricus, to a hermitage in the Vosges mountains, late r the monastery of Remiremont.  Here he died.

Details of Arnulf's family with Dode