Hildegarde of Swabia (c. 757–783)
Hildegarde of Swabia (c. 757–783)
Queen of the Franks. Name variations: Hildigard; Ildegarde; Saint Hildegarde; Hildegarde of Vinzgau. Born around 757 or 758; died on April 30, 783;daughter of Hildebrand, count of Souave; became third wife of Charles I also known as Charlemagne (742–814), king of the Franks (r. 768–814), Holy Roman emperor (r. 800–814), in 771; children: Adelaide (773–774); Bertha (779–after 823); Rotrude (c. 778–after 839); Gisela of Chelles (781–814); Charles (772–811), king of Neustria; Pepin I (773–810), king of Italy (r. 781–810); Louis I the Pious (778–840), king of Aquitaine (r. 781–814), king of France (r. 814–840), and Holy Roman emperor as Louis le Debonaire (r. 814–840); Lothar (778–780).
Legend has it that Hildegarde of Swabia, third wife of Charlemagne, king of the Franks, was falsely accused of infidelity by a servant named Taland and was subsequently divorced by Charlemagne. She retired to Rome, where she led a life of great piety, devoting herself to tending the sick. There, she met Taland, wandering about, blind, and restored his sight. Overcome by gratitude and stricken by remorse, Taland confessed his lies and led her back to Charlemagne. Charlemagne's other wives were Himiltrude, Desiderata (d. 773), Fastrada (d. 794), and Luitgarde (d. 800).