Walbert IV

Saint Walbert IV (French: Sainte Walbert IV) (died c. 640-646 AD), also known as Vaubert, Waubert, or Waudbert was a Merovingian Count of Hainaut and a Frankish saint. He was the father of Saint Waltrude (wife of Madelgaire), and Saint Aldegund, first abbess of Maubeuge.^[1]

Walbert IV was born in the pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia (now Hainaut Province, Belgium).

St. Walbert of Hainaut came from a direct line of descent from Auberon, son of Clodio, King of the Franks.^[2] His great-grandfather was Walbert I.^[3]

His parents were Walbert III and Amalberge of Landen, daughter of Carloman.^[4] Saint Walbert's uncle on his mother's side was Pepin of Landen. He was a relative of Saint Gertrude.^[5] Walbert IV's grandfather, Charles de Hasbaye V, fathered Veraye, who married Aymon, Count of Ardennes, and became the mother of the four sons of Aymon.^[5]

He was one of four children: Walbert IV, Brunulphe I, Count of the Adrennes, St. Amalberga, and Vraye.^[6] Walbert IV, married to Princess Bertille of Thuringia, daughter of the King of Thuringia, had two daughters: Saint Waltrude, Princess of Ardennes and Countess of Hainaut, wife of Madelgaire, and Saint Aldegund, first abbess of Maubeuge.^[1] His brother Brunulphe I, Count of the Adrennes's wife was Vraye, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy with whom he had two daughters: Saint Aye (heiress of the County of Hainaut after Saint Waltrude) and Clotilde (wife of Sigilfe or Sigilfus).^[7][8] Walbert IV's uncle, Brunulphe, counted Saint Hydulphe, later married to Saint Aye, among his children.^[8]

Walbert IV served first in the royal court of King Clotaire II and later under his son, Dagobert I, during both their reigns.^[5] During his youth, he resided in the royal court of Clotaire II as a domesticus^[9] (and later regent), then withdrew to his lands and settled in the castle of Cousolre, constructed by his ancestors.^[10] Coursolre Castle was part farm, part palace. Waltrude and Aldetrude, his daughters, were born at that location.^[11] His father had become a monk, leaving behind his estates.^[10] He became a lord of Lower Austrasia, whose duchy covered Cambrésis, Hainaut, Brabant, Hesbaye, Ardennes, and extended to the Rhine.^[12][13]

In Cousolre, Walbert and Bertille built a church and a monastery dedicated to Notre-Dame, erected in the 7th century.^[14]

Saint Walbert IV died around c. 640-646 AD in Cousolre, pagus Hainoensis, Austrasia, Francia (now Belgium).^[1]

After Walbert's death, his son-in-law Vincent Madelgarius governed as Count of Hainaut alongside his daughter Saint Waltrude, Countess of Hainaut.^[15] Saint Bertille died a few years later and was buried alongside her husband in Cousolre, where their daughter was later interred.^[16] After Walbert and Bertille were canonized, Cousolre became a renowned pilgrimage site, attracting even Charlemagne.^[17] Hubert of Liège, during the Carolingian Dynasty, raised Saint Walbert and Saint Bertille, before elevating their daughter, Saint Waltrude, in Charlemagne's presence. Waltrude's remains were transferred to modern-day Mons. In 1552, a stone with the inscription: "Hubertus Tongrensis Epifcopus poftquam elevasset S Walbertum & S Bertilliam elevavit S Waldetrudem presente Carolo Magno Imperatore" was discovered in a wall of the Old Church of Cousolre.^[16] The bones of Walbert IV and Saint Bertille were preserved and placed at the Church of Saint-Martin in Cousolre in 1661.