Belgian nobility. Blessed Pepin I of Landen was born about 580, and passed away in 640. He was mayor of the palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian king Dagobert I from 623 to 629. He was mayor for Sigebert III from 639 until his own death. Some referred to him as Pepin the Elder, or Pepin the Old. From his marriage to Itta (Ida) of Metz (later canonized) was born daughter Begga of Andenne (also later canonized). Saint Begga's marriage to Ansegisel, a son of Saint Arnulf the bishop of Metz, united the clans of the Pippinids and the Arnulfings, giving rise to a family that would eventually rule the Franks as the Carolingians. Pepin and Itta's son Grimoald became mayor of the palace, and father of King Childebert the Adopted. Their second son Bavo (or Allowin), became a hermit and was later canonized. After Blessed Pepin I passed away, his widow founded the Benedictine abbey at Nivelles. Their daughter Gertrude of Nivelles (later canonized) became abbess. (The Saint Gertrude Collegiate Church was built upon the ruins of the abbey, in whose crypt Blessed Pepin I, his wife Saint Itta of Metz and their daughter Saint Gertrude of Nivelles were buried. Their relics are now in the crypt of the present church.) Blessed Pepin I was praised by many of his contemporaries for his good government and wise counsel, and for being a lover of peace and the constant defender of truth and justice. While never canonized, he is listed as a saint in some old martyrologies. His Feast Day is February 21.
Belgian nobility. Blessed Pepin I of Landen was born about 580, and passed away in 640. He was mayor of the palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian king Dagobert I from 623 to 629. He was mayor for Sigebert III from 639 until his own death. Some referred to him as Pepin the Elder, or Pepin the Old. From his marriage to Itta (Ida) of Metz (later canonized) was born daughter Begga of Andenne (also later canonized). Saint Begga's marriage to Ansegisel, a son of Saint Arnulf the bishop of Metz, united the clans of the Pippinids and the Arnulfings, giving rise to a family that would eventually rule the Franks as the Carolingians. Pepin and Itta's son Grimoald became mayor of the palace, and father of King Childebert the Adopted. Their second son Bavo (or Allowin), became a hermit and was later canonized. After Blessed Pepin I passed away, his widow founded the Benedictine abbey at Nivelles. Their daughter Gertrude of Nivelles (later canonized) became abbess. (The Saint Gertrude Collegiate Church was built upon the ruins of the abbey, in whose crypt Blessed Pepin I, his wife Saint Itta of Metz and their daughter Saint Gertrude of Nivelles were buried. Their relics are now in the crypt of the present church.) Blessed Pepin I was praised by many of his contemporaries for his good government and wise counsel, and for being a lover of peace and the constant defender of truth and justice. While never canonized, he is listed as a saint in some old martyrologies. His Feast Day is February 21.
