Agilfride

Agilfride was born in the early 8th-century into a noble Frankish family, and has been said to be a relative of Charlemagne.[1] Due to no clarification of how Agilfride was related to him, historians suggest that he was related through one of his wives.[2] Agilfride served as an abbot of Saint-Amand Abbey and Saint Bavo's Abbey prior to his ascension to bishop,[3] and is assumed to have retained the title of abbot during his episcopate.[4] Sometime in 754, Agilfride, while returning from Rome, acquired and brought the relics of Pharaildis and Bavo of Ghent from Lotharingia to Saint Bavo's Abbey,[5] where they remain present to this day.[6]

Agilfride was said to be well respected at the courtyard of Charlemagne,[7] who granted him several franchises and considerable assets in favor of his church,[4] and appointed Agilfride as Bishop of Liège in 769,[lower-alpha 2] replacing the previously deceased Fulcaire.[8] Charlemagne also visited the Diocese of Liège on multiple occasions, celebrating Easter.[9] According to the Annales Laubacenses, in 774, Agilfride was entrusted by Charlemagne to handle the detention of Desiderius and his wife Ansa.[10]

It has recently been suggested,[11] that Agilfride sanctified the first church in Osnabrück sometime from 783 to 787,[12] which was a wooden church and served as the seat for the Diocese of Osnabrück at the time of establishment.[13]

Agilfride died on 13 December 787 and was succeeded by Gerbald.[8]