Description
About twenty years from now mankind will reach the 2000th anniversaries of all the events that created Christianity. Two millennia will have passed from the time of every known event in the life of Christ. Opportunities for spiritual growth will be everywhere. They have already begun to appear.
For anyone interested in his or her own genealogical links to medieval Europe and early Christianity, this book offers an extraordinary opportunity. For the first time, the lives of 275 early European saints are retold and accompanied by lineages connecting those saints to twenty-four of the great men and women of medieval Europe (see below for a list of saints). Today, those twenty-four men and women have hundreds of millions of living descendants. Anyone living today who can connect to these medieval personages can claim forefathers among the princes of the earth as well as ancestors among the princes of Heaven. (Readers can consult any of the standard works on colonial American genealogy to help make the connection.)
The historical period covered by this work is vast. From St. Gregory “the Illuminator” (b. 256 – d.326) to St. Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (b. ca 1277 – d. 22 March 1322), the saints presented in this book span ten centuries. On earth, some were great men, such as Alfred “the Great,” Bernard of Clairvaux, and Charlemagne. Others, such as Elizabeth of Hungary, Marie of Brabant, and Odilia, led lives that are just as moving today as in their own time.
For the first time, A Who’s Who of Your Ancestral Saints merges centuries of Catholic and Protestant scholarship and gives members of all Christian faiths the chance to welcome the third millennium of their religion knowing that they are the descendants of many of its early heroes.
The following are the medieval figures with connections to the 275 saints covered in this book:
Aethelred II “the Redeless,” King of England; St. Alfred the Great, King of Wessex and England; St. Edgar “the Peaceful,” King of England; Edmund “Ironside,” King of England; Edmund I “the Magnificent,” King of England; Edward “the Elder,” King of England; Edward I, King of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married (1) Louis VII, King of France, and married (2) Henry II, King of England; Eleanor of Castile, the first wife of Edward I, King of England; Bl. Eleanore of Provence, who married Henry III, King of England; Henry II, King of England; Isabel of Mar, the first wife of Robert I the Bruce, King of Scotland; Isabella of France, who married Edward II, King of England; John Stewart of Balveny, first Earl of Atholl; Mathilda (also known as Eadgyth) of Scotland, who married Henry I, King of England; Mathilde of Flanders, who married William I the Conqueror, King of England; Matilda of Huntingdon, who married (1) Simon de St. Liz, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, and married (2) David I, King of Scotland; Philippa of Hainault, who married Edward III, King of England; Robert I the Bruce, King of Scotland; Robert III Stewart, King of Scotland; Saher de Quincy, first Earl of Winchester, Magna Carta Surety, and Crusader; Stephen of Blois, King of England; William de Plumpton, Knight and High Sheriff of Yorkshire; William I the Conqueror, King of England.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan J. Koman is a lawyer in private practice in Atlanta. He was educated at Cornell University (B.A., 1972), Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1975), and the University of Munich School of Law (LL.B., 1981) and is a member of the bars of Georgia, New York, and Washington, D.C. A lifetime Catholic and a member of the St. Thomas More Society, he was admitted to the Most Venerable Order of St. John by H.R.H. Elizabeth II of Great Britain in 2001. A Who=s Who of Your Ancestral Saints is his first written work in the fields of genealogy and hagiography. All the saints discussed in this book are in his own family tree.
SAINTS WHO ARE DIRECT ANCESTORS
St. Adela, Princess of Austrasia (d. 734/735), St. Adela, Princess of France (b. 1009 – d. 8 Jan 1079), St. Adela, Princess of England (b. ca. 1062 – d. 8 March 1137), St. Adelaide of Burgundy
(b. 931– d. 16 Dec 999), Bl. Adelaide of Susa (b. ca. 1015 – d. 19 Dec 1091), Bl. Adelheid von Odenkirchen (d. 5 July 1158), St. Aethelbert I, King of Kent (b. ca. 552 – d. 24 Feb 616), Bl. Agnes of Franconia (b. ca. 1073 – d. 24 Sept 1143), Bl. Agnes of Poitou (b. 1024 – d. 14 Dec 1077), Bl. Aleth of Montbard (b. ca. 1070 – d. 1105/1110), St. Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (b. ca. 849 – d. 26 Oct 899), St. Arddun “Benasgell,” daughter of St. Pabo “Post Prydyn”
(who was b. ca. 430 and d. ca. 510), St. Arnulf, Bishop of Metz (b. 13 Aug 582 – d. 16 Aug 640),
St. Ashken (md. 298/299), St. Bathildis (b. ca. 630 – d. Jan 680) , St. Begga (b. 613 – d. 17 Dec 694/695), St. Bertha (b. ca. 560 – d. ca. 602), Bl. Blanche of Castile (b. 4 March 1188 – d. 27 Nov 1252), St. Bodegeisel II, Governor of Aquitaine (d. 588), St. Boris I, Khan of the Bulgars
(d. 2 May 907), St. Brochwel “Ysgithrog,” King of Powys (b. ca. 502 – d. ca. 560), St. Brychan, ruler of Brecknock (b. 480/490), St. Cadwalader, King of Gwynedd (b. ca. 633 – d. ca. 682), Bl. Carloman, Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia (b. 707 – d. 17 Aug 754), St. Ceneu (b. ca. 400 – d. ca. 450), St. Ceolwald, a war leader in Wessex (b. ca. 622 – d. 20 April 689), Bl. Charlemagne, King of the Franks and First Emperor of the West (b. 2 April 747 – d. 28 Jan 814), St. Clodulf, Bishop of Metz (b. 605 – d. 8 June 696), St. Clothilde (b. 470/475 – d. 3 June 545), St. Coel Hen, ruler of Northern Britain (b. ca. 370 – d. 420/430), St. Constantine I, King of Scotland (b. ca. 836 – d. 877), St. Cunedda Wledig, founder of the Kingdom of Gwynedd (b. ca. 400 – d. 460/470),
St. Dagobert II, King of Austrasia (b. 652 – murdered 23 Dec 678), St. David I, King of Scotland
(b. ca. 1084 – d. 24 May 1153), St. Ealhswith of Mercia (b. ca. 852 – d. 903/905), Bl. Eberhard V
(b. ca. 1010 – d. 1076/1079), St. Edgar “the Peaceful,” King of England (b. 943 – d. 8 July 975),
St. Edith of Polesworth, daughter of King Edward “the Elder” of England (who was b. 875 and d. 924), Bl. Ela, Countess of Salisbury (b. 1187/1190 – d. 24 Aug 1261), Bl. Eleanor of Provence (b. 1222 – d. 24 June 1291), St. Elgiva, first wife of Edmund I “the Magnificent,” King of England
(who was b. ca. 920 and d. 26 May 946), Bl. Emma of Bavaria (b. ca. 808 – d. 31 Jan 876), St. Emma, daughter of King Clothaire II of Neustria (who was b. 584 and d. 629), Bl. Ermengarde of Orleans (b. ca. 800 – d. 20 March 851), Bl. Ermengarde of Zutphen (b. ca. 1090 – d. bef. 1134),
St. Fernando III, King of Castile and Leon (b. 24 June 1198 – d. 30 May 1252), Bl. Frederick of Arras (b. aft. 962 – d. 6 Jan 1020), St. Gabran mac Domangart, King of Dalriada (b. ca 500 – d. ca. 559), St. Geraint, King of Brittany, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre (b. 378 – d. 31 July 448), St. Gertrude of Hamage, St. Gondolfus, Bishop of Tongres (b. mid 500’s – d. 16 July 604),
St. Gregory “the Illuminator” (b. 256 – d. 326), St. Guerin (d. 677), St. Gwen, wife of St. Salamon I “the Handsome,” King of Brittany (who was liv. in the 400’s), St. Harold III “Bluetooth,” King of Denmark (b. ca. 910 – d. 1 Nov 985/986), Bl. Haziga of Diessen (d. 1 Aug 1103), St. Hereswitha (b. shortly bef. 616 – d. 680/690), Bl. Hildegarde (b. ca. 754 – d. 30 April 783), wife of Bl. Charlemagne, St. Hmayeak Mamikonian (b. 410 – d. 2 June 451), Bl. Humbeline of Troyes (b. 1092 – d. 21 Aug 1141), Bl. Humbert III, Count of Savoy (b. 4 Aug 1135 – d. 4 March 1188), St. Ida of Herzfeld (d. aft. 21 Nov 838), Bl. Ida of Boulogne (b. ca. 1040 – d. 13 April 1113), St. Ilduara Eriz (d. 958), St. Ingigerd, Princess of Sweden (b. ca. 1000 – d. 10 Feb 1050), St. Irene, Empress of Byzantium (b. 752 – d. 9 Aug 803), St. Irene Doukaina
(b. ca. 1066 – d. 19 Feb 1127), St. Isaac I “the Great” (b. ca. 350 – d. Sept 439/440), Bl. Itta
(b. ca. 597 – d. 8 May 652), St. Izyaslav I Yaroslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev (b. 1024/1025 – d. 3 Oct 1078), St. Judicael II, King of Brittany (b. ca. 590 – d. 17 Dec 658), St. Ladislas, King of Hungary (b. 29 July 1040 – d. 27 July 1095), St. Leo VI “the Philosopher,” Emperor of Byzantium (b. 1 Sept 866 – d. 12 May 912), St. Leopold III, Margrave of Austria (b. ca. 1075 – d. 15 Nov 1136), St. Liévin, Bishop of Trier (b. 660/665 – d. 722/724), St. Lleian, wife of St. Gabran mac Domangart, King of Dalriada (who was b. ca. 500 and d. ca. 559), St. Louis IX, King of France (b. 25 April 1214 – d. 25 Aug 1270), St. Ludmilla, Duchess of Bohemia (b. ca. 860 – d. 15 Sept 921), St. Marchell, mother of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490), St. Margaret of Scotland (b. ca. 1046 – d. 16 Nov 1093), St. Matilda of Ringelheim (b. ca. 892 – d. 14 March 968), Bl. Mathilde of Saxony (b. 981 – d. 1025), St. Meurig ap Tewdrig, King of Gwent and Glywysing (b. mid 500’s), St. Mstislav I Vladimirovich “the Great,” Grand Prince of Kiev
(b. 1076 – d. 14 April 1132), St. Nerses I “the Great” (b. 333/337 – d. 369), St. Oda (b. ca. 567 – d. ca. 640), St. Olaf II, King of Norway (b. ca. 995 – d. 29 July 1030), St. Olaf Bjornsson, King at Uppsala (d. ca. 964) , St. Olaf III “Skotkonung” (the Tax King), King of Sweden (b. ca. 980 – d. 1021/1022), St. Olga, Princess of Izborsk (md. 930/935 – d. 11 July 969), St. Pabo “Post Prydyn” (b. ca. 430 – d. ca. 510), Bl. Pepin of Landen, Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia (b. 580/585 – d. 640/646), St. Peter Orseolo I, Doge of Venice (b. 928 – d. 10 Jan 987), St. Pompeja, wife of King Hoel I “the Great” of Brittany (who d. ca. 545), St. Prisca (b.ca. 1088 – d. 13 Aug 1134), St. Ragnald III, Earl of Orkney and Caithness (b. ca. 1100 – d. 20 Aug 1158), Raymond Berenger IV “the Saint,” Count of Barcelona (b. ca. 1113 – d. 6 Aug 1162), St. Reginlink (d. 959), St. Richenza of Pfalz-Lorraine (b. ca. 1000 – d. 21 March 1063), St. Salamon I “the Handsome,” King of Brittany (liv. in the 400’s), St. Sexburga (md. ca. 640 – d. 6 July 699),
St. Sigebert III, King of Austrasia (b. 630 – d. 1 Feb 656), St. Sigismund, King of Burgundy (d. 523), St. Sigrada (d. ca. 678), St. Tewdrig ap Llywarch, King of Gwent (liv. early-mid 500’s),
St. Theodora, Empress of Byzantium (b. ca. 815 – d. aft. 24 Sept 867), St. Theophano Skleros
(b. 956 – d. 15 Sept 991), Bl. Theudelinde (md. (2) Nov 590 – d. 22 Jan 628), St. Tiridates “the Great,” King of Armenia (b. ca. 280 – d. 330) St. Vardanes, Bishop of Armenia (d. 342),
St. Vladimir I Sviatoslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev (b. ca. 955 – d. 15 July 1015)
St. Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomach, Grand Prince of Kiev (b. 1053 – d. 19 May 1125),
St. Waltheof II, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton (b. 1045 – d. 31 May 1076), Bl. Widukind, Duke of Saxony (d. ca. 804) , St. William of Gellone (b. 755 – d. 28 May 812), St. William I “Longsword,” Duke of Normandy (b. ca. 900 – d. 17 Dec 942), St. William X, Duke of Aquitaine (b. 1099 – d. 9 April 1137), St. William VI, Lord of Montpellier (b. ca. 1100 – d. 1162), St. Wiltrudis (d. ca. 986) St. Yaroslav I Vladimirovich “the Wise,” Grand Prince of Kiev (b. 978 – d. 20 Feb 1054), St. Yusik, Bishop of Armenia (b. ca. 305 – d. ca. 348).
SAINTS AS AUNTS AND UNCLES
St. Abban, St. Adalard (b. ca. 751 – d. 2 Jan 826), St. Adalbero, Bishop of Wuerzburg
(b. 1010 – d. 6 Oct 1090), Bl. Adalbero, Bishop of Liège (d. 1 Jan 1128), St. Adeloga
(d. ca. 745), St. Aidan of Ferns (b. ca. 558 – d. 626/632), St. Alaricus (d. 29 Sept 975),
St. Albert of Louvain, Bishop of Liège (b. 1166 – d. 24 Nov 1192), St. Alburga (d. ca. 810), St. Anna of Kiev (d. 1112/1116), St. Anthusa (b. 757 – d. 809/811), St. Aristakes, Bishop of Armenia (d. 333), St. Attalia (b. 687/690 – d. Dec 741), Bl. Ayrald (d. ca. 1146), St. Balderic, son of King Sigebert I of Austrasia (who d. 575), St. Benedict of Aniane (b. ca. 750 – d. 11 Feb 821), Bl. Berengari (b. 1228 – d. 1288), St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church (b. 1091 – d. 20 Aug 1153), Bl. Boniface of Savoy, Archbishop of Canterbury (b. ca. 1207 – d. 14 July 1270), St. Boris the Passion-Bearer, Prince of Kiev (b. 990/994 – d. 24 July 1014) ,St. Bova, daughter of King Sigebert I of Austrasia (who d. 575), St. Bruno the Great, Archbishop of Cologne
(b. 925 – d. 11 Oct 965), St. Cado (lived in the 400’s), St. Canoc, son of St. Brychan
(who was b. 480/490), St. Christina (b. ca. 1055 – d. bef. 1102), St. Cledwyn, son of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490) , St. Conrad, Bishop of Constance, (b. ca. 905 – d. 26 Nov 975) , Bl. Conrad of Bavaria (b. 1105 – d. 17 March 1154), Bl. Constance, daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary (who was b. 1026 and d. 3 May 1270), St. Cunegund, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire (b. ca. 978 – d. 3 March 1039/1040), St. Cunegund, Patron Saint of Poland and Lithuania (b. ca. 1224 – d. 24 July 1292), St. Cuthburga (d. 725),
St. Cybi (b. ca. 490 – d. 8 Nov 554), St. Cynfarch Gul, son of King Meirchion Gul of Rheged (who was b. ca. 470 and d. ca. 535), St. Cynfran, son of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490), St. Cyngar (b. ca. 470 – d. ca. 530), St. Dunawd “Fawr” (d. ca. 535), St. Dwynwen, daughter of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490) St. Eanswitha (d. ca. 640)
St. Ebba “the Elder” (b. ca. 615 – d. 25 Aug 683), St. Edburga of Winchester (b. ca. 920 – d. 15 June 960) , St. Edith of Polesworth (d. 15 Mar 871), St. Edith of Wilton (b. 962 – d. 16 Sept 984), St. Edmund, King of the Scottish Lowlands (b. ca. 1071 – d. aft. 1097),
St. Edward the Confessor, King of England (b. 1004 – d. 5 Jan 1066), St. Edward the Martyr, King of England (b. 962 – d. 18 March 978), St. Elizabeth of Hungary (b. 7 June 1207 – d. 19 Nov 1231), St. Elizabeth Rose (d. 13 Dec 1130), St. Ercongota
(d. 660), St. Erconwald, Bishop of London (b. ca. 630 – d. ca. 690) , St. Ermenburga
(d. ca. 590), Bl. Ermengard, Abbess of Buchan and Chiemsee (b. 832 – d. 16 July 866),
Bl. Ermengarde of Anjou (b. aft. 1068 – d. 1147), St. Ermengytha (d. ca. 580), St. Ermenilda (d. 703), St. Ethelburga, Queen of Northumbria (d. ca. 647), St. Ethelburga, Princess of the East Angles (d. ca. 664), St. Etheldreda (b. ca. 636 – d. 23 June 679),
St. Ethelgiva (d. 896), St. Eugenia (d. 735), Bl. Euphemia of Andechs (d. 1180), St. Euriella, daughter of King Hoel III of Brittany (who d. 612) ,
St. Feidhlimidh (d. ca. 560), St. Florentia (b. ca. 554 – d. 633), St. Fulgentius, Bishop of Ecija (b. late 500’s – d. ca. 633), St. Galswintha (d. ca. 568), Bl. Gerard (b. bef. 1090 – d. 13 June 1138), St. Gertrude of Nivelles (b. 626 – d. 17 March 659), St.Gisela, Abbess of Chelles (b. 757 – d. 30 July 810), St. Gistald (d.523/524), St. Gladys, daughter of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490), St. Gleb the Passion-Bearer, Prince of Kiev
(b. 995/1000 – d. 5 Sept 1015), St. Grigoris (b. early 300’s – d. 348), St. Gundebald
(d. 523/524), St. Gundelindis of Alsace (d. ca. 750), St. Guntram I, King of Burgundy
(b. ca. 525 – d. 592), Bl. Guy, son of Tescelin Sorrel (who md. ca. 1085), Bl. Hathumoda
(b. ca. 839 – d. 28 Nov 874), St. Hedwig of Silesia (b. 1174 – d. 15 Oct 1243), Bl. Henry Zdik, Bishop of Olmuetz (d. 25 June 1151), St. Hermenegild (b. early 560’s – d. 13 April 585), St. Hilda of Whitby (b. 614 – d. 17 Nov 680), St. Hugh the Great, Abbot of Cluny (b. 1024 – d. 29 April 1109), St. Ina, King of Wessex (b. 660/664 – d. 728), St. Irmina (d. 708), daughter of St. Dagobert II, King of Austrasia, Bl. Isabel (b. March 1225 – d. 23 Feb 1270), St. Isidore of Seville, Doctor of the Church (b. ca. 560 – d. 4 April 636), Bl. Jeanne of Flanders (b. 1200 – d. 5 Dec 1244), St. Jestin, son of St. Geraint, King of Brittany, St. Judoc (b. ca. 600 – d. ca. 669), Bl. Jutta of Diessenberg (b. ca. 1090 – d. 1136), St. Khosrowidukht (d. ca. 340), St. Laurence O’Toole, Archbishop of Dublin (b. ca. 1128 – d. 14 Nov 1180), St. Leander, Archbishop of Seville (b. ca. 535 – d. 13 March 600/601), St. Leo IX, Pope (b. 21 June 1002 – d. 19 April 1054),
St. Leodegar of Autun (b. ca. 616 – d. 2 Oct 678), St. Leonorius (d. 560/570), St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse (b. Feb 1274 – d. 19 Aug 1297), Bl. Ludwig III, Count of Arnstein
(b. 1109 – d. 25 Oct 1185), St. Magnus of Orkney (b. 1075 – d. 16 April 1115), St. Margaret of Hungary (b. 1242 – d. 18 Jan 1270), Bl. Margaret of Vau-le-Duc (d. 4 June 1277), Bl. Marie of Brabant (b. ca. 1226 – d. 18 Jan 1256), Bl. Mary, Princess of Bohemia (d. 994), Bl. Mathilde of Quedlinburg (b. 955 – d. 7 Feb 999), St. Mechtildis of Diessen (b. 1125 – d. 31 May 1160), St. Modoald, Bishop of Trier (d. 646/647), St. Nefyn, daughter of St. Brychan (who was b. 480/490), Bl. Nivard (b. ca. 1100 – d. 1150)
St. Non, mother of St. David of Wales (who d. ca. 601), St. Octavian (b. ca. 1060 – d. 6 Aug 1128), St. Odilia (b. ca. 660 – d. 13 Dec 720), St. Oswald, King of Northumbria
(b. 604/605 – d. 5 Aug 642), St. Oswy, King of Northumbria (b. ca. 611 – d. 15 Feb 670),
St. Owain (d. ca. 1001), St. Podius (b. 930 – d. 1002), St. Quenburga (d. ca. 735), St. Remigius of Rouen (d. ca. 772), St. Richardis (b. 840 – d. ca. 895), St. Rosendo
(b. 26 Nov 907 – d. 1 March 977), St. Rostislav I Mstislavich, Grand Prince of Kiev
(b. ca. 1110 – d. 14 March 1167), Bl. Sancia (b. ca. 1180 – d. 13 March 1229), St. Sawyl “Benisel,” son of St. Pabo “Post Prydyn”(who was b. ca. 430 and d. 510), St. Sethryda (d. ca. 660), St. Sève (b. ca. 539), St. Severa, Abbess of St. Sevère (d. ca. 660),
St. Simon, Count of Crepy (b. ca. 1047 – d. ca. 1081), St. Stephen I, King of Hungary
(b. 969 – d. 15 Aug 1038), St. Stephen, Patriarch of Constantinople (b. ca. 870 – d. 893),
St. Sviatoslav II Yaroslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev (b. 1027 – d. 27 Dec 1076), St. Theobald, Archbishop of Vienne (b. ca. 927 – d. 21 May 1001), St. Theodehilda, daughter of King Clovis “the Great” of the Salic Franks (who was b. 466 and d. 511),
St. Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (b. ca. 1277 – d. 22 March 1322), St. Trigidia, daughter of Count Sancho Garcia of Castile (who was b. ca. 965 and d. 5 Feb 1017), St. Tugdual, Bishop of Tréguier (b. 509 – d. 559/564), St. Tysilio, son of St. Brochwel Ysgithrog, King of Powys (who was b. ca. 502 and d. ca. 560), St. Ulric, Bishop of Augsburg
(b. 890 – d. 4 July 973), Bl. Urban II, Pope (b. 1035/1042 – d. 29 July 1099), St. Vardan II, Prince of the Mamikonids (d. 2 June 451), St. Verona, daughter of King Louis II of the East Franks (who was b. 806 and d. 28 Aug 876), St. Vladimir II Yaroslavich, Prince of Novgorod (b. 1020 – d. 1052), St. Vsevolod Mstislavich, Prince of Novgorod and Pskov
(b. 1092 – d. 11 Feb 1138), St. Wala (b. ca. 755 – d. 31 Aug 836), St. Waltheof, Abbot of Melrose (b. ca. 1100 – d. ca. 1160), Bl. Warin, Abbot of Corvie (d. 20/21 Sept 856),
St. Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (b. ca. 903 – d. 28 Sept 929), St. William, Archbishop of York (b. 1085/1090 – d. 8 June 1154), St. Wistan (d. 1 June 849), St. Withburga, Abbess of Dereham and daughter of King Anna of East Anglia
(who ruled ca. 641-653), St. Wulfhilda (b. ca. 1117 – d. aft. 1180), St. Yaropolk Izyaslavich, Prince of Turov and Vladimir-in-Volynia (d. 22 Nov 1087), Bl. Yolande of Hungary (b. ca. 1235 – d. 6 March 1298), St. Zwentibold, King of Lorraine
(b. 870 – d. 13 Aug 900).
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