Arnulf of Metz was born of an important
Frankish family at an uncertain date around
582. In his younger years he was called to the
Merovingian court to serve king
Theudebert II (
595-612) of
Austrasia and as dux at the Scheldt. Later he became bishop of
Metz. During his life he was attracted to religious life and he retired as a monk. After his death he was canonized as a
saint. In the French language he is also known as
Arnoul or
Arnoulf.
Arnulf gave distinguished service at the
Austrasian court under
Theudebert II After the death of Theudebert in
612 he was made
bishop of Metz. The rule of
Austrasia came in hands of
Brunhilda, the grandmother of Theudebert, who ruled also in
Burgundy in name of her great-grandchildren. In
613 Arnulf joined his politics with
Pippin of Landen and led the opposition of Frankish nobles against Queen
Brunhilda. The revolt led to her overthrow, torture, and eventual execution, and the subsequent reunification of Frankish lands under
Chlothachar II.
Chlothachar later made his son
Dagobert I king of Austrasia and he ruled with the help of his advisor Arnulf. Not satisfeid with his position, as a bishop he was involved in the murder of
Chrodoald in
624, an impportant leader of the Frankish
Agilolfings-family and a protégé of Dagobert.
From
623 (with Pippin of Landen, then the
Mayor of the Palace), Arnulf was an adviser to
Dagobert I. He retired around
628 to a hermitage at a mountain site in the
Vosges, to implement his lifelong resolution to become a monk and a hermit. His friend
Romaric, whose parents were killed by
Brunhilda had preceded him to the mountains and together with
Amatus had already established the
monastery of
Remiremont there. Arnulf settled there, and remained there until his death twelve years later.
Arnulf was canonized as a saint by the
Roman Catholic Church. In
iconography, he is portrayed with a rake in his hand and is often confused in legend with
Arnold of Soissons, who is a patron saint of brewing.
Arnulf was married to a woman who may have been called Doda and had children.
Chlodulf of Metz was his oldest son, but more important is his second son
Ansegisel, who married
Begga daughter of Pippin of Landen. His father may have been
Arnoald, who also was dux of the Scheldt before becoming bishop of Metz.
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