10/13/21, 3:51 AM Saint Batilda

Orthodox
Outlet for Dogmatic
Enquiries Biographies
 

Saint Batilda,
Queen and wife to
King Clovis of France
and nun
(†680)
 

Source:
 http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-
Batilda.htm

A first approach to the indigenous Orthodox Saints and

Martyrs of the Ancient Church who lived and who
propagated the Faith in the British Isles and Ireland
during the first millennium of Christianity and prior to
the Great Schism is being attempted in our website  in
our desire to inform our readers, who may not be aware
of the history, the labours or the martyrdom of this host
of Orthodox Saints of the original One, Holy, Catholic
and Apostolic Church of our Lord.

"The Church in
The British Isles
will only begin
to grow when
she begins to
venerate her
own Saints"    
(Saint Arsenios
of Paros †1877)

oodegr.com/english/biographies/arxaioi/Batilda.htm 1/3
10/13/21, 3:51 AM Saint Batilda

SAINT BATILDA (Other forms of her name are Bathilidis, Bathild, Bathchilde, and
Bauteur ) 

An Anglo-Saxon by birth, St. Batilda was captured in 641 by Danish raiders and sold
to Erchinoald, the chief officer of the palace of Clovis II, King of the Franks. She
quickly gained favour, for she had charm, beauty, and a graceful and gentle nature.
She also won the affection of her fellow-servants, for she would do them many
kindnesses such as cleaning their shoes and mending their clothes, and her bright
and attractive disposition endeared her to them all.

The officer, impressed by her fine qualities, wished to make her his wife, but Batilda,
alarmed at the prospect, both by reason of her modesty and of her humble status,
disguised herself in old and ragged clothes, and hid herself away among the lower
servants of the palace; and he, not finding her in her usual place, and thinking she
had fled, married another woman.

Her next suitor, however, was none other than the king himself, for when she had
discarded her old clothes and appeared again in her place, he noticed her grace and
beauty, and declared his love for her. Thus in 649, the 19-year-old slave girl Batilda
became Queen of France, amidst the applause of the court and the kingdom. She
bore Clovis three sons: Clotaire III, Childeric II, and Theodoric III--all of whom
became kings. On the death of Clovis (c. 655-657), she was appointed regent in the
name of her eldest son, who was only five, and ruled capably for eight years with
Saint Eligius (f.d. December 1) as her advisor.

She made a good queen and ruled wisely. Unlike many who rise suddenly to high
place and fortune, she never forgot that she had been a slave, and did all within her
power to relieve those in captivity. We are told that "Queen Batilda was the holiest
and most devout of women; her pious munificence knew no bounds; remembering
her own bondage, she set apart vast sums for the redemption of captives." She
helped promote Christianity by seconding the zeal of Saint Owen (f.d. August 24),
Saint Leodegar (f.d. October 2), and many other bishops.

At that time the poorer inhabitants of France were often obliged to sell their children
as slaves to meet the crushing taxes imposed upon them. Batilda reduced this
taxation, forbade the purchase of Christian slaves and the sale of French subjects,
and declared that any slave who set foot in France would from that moment be free.
Thus, this enlightened woman earned the love of her people and was a pioneer in
the abolition of slavery.

She also founded many abbeys, such as Corbie, Saint-Denis, and Chelles, which
became civilised settlements in wild and remote areas inhabited only by prowling
wolves and other wild beasts. Under her guidance forests and waste land were
reclaimed, cornland and pasture took their place, and agriculture flourished. She
built hospitals and sold her jewellery to supply the needy. Finally, when Clotaire
came of age, she retired to her own royal abbey of Chelles, near Paris, where she
oodegr.com/english/biographies/arxaioi/Batilda.htm 2/3
10/13/21, 3:51 AM Saint Batilda

served the other nuns with humility and obeyed the abbess like the least of the
sisters.

She died at Chelles before she had reached her 50th birthday. Death touched her
with a gentle hand; as she died, she said she saw a ladder reaching from the altar to
heaven, and up this she climbed in the company of angels.

She is the patroness of children. Holy Mother Batilda, pray to God for us!

Feast: Jan. 30

Article published in English on: 14-3-2011.

Last update: 14-3-2011.

UP

oodegr.com/english/biographies/arxaioi/Batilda.htm 3/3