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Notes for Arnulf , Bishop of Metz
General Note
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The "Major Domus" is translated as "Mayor of the Palace". Arnulf was the first Mayor of the
Palace for the French Kings in Austrasia (ancient area of France). The Major Domus actually
wielded the power while the King (Merovinian King) was more of a puppet king. Eventually, Pepin
"the Short" (the father of Charlemagne) wrested power from the real Kings and set himself up
as the King. Pepin was a descendant of Arnulf as the role of Major Domus was passed from father
to son.
Feast day, 19 August. This Arnulf (Arnoul) passed his earlier life at the
court of Theodebert II, king of Austrasia; throught the marriage of his elder son with a daughter
of Pepin of Landen (St. Begga), he became an ancestor of the Carolingian dynasty. At the age
of thirty, he wanted to retire from public life, but instead in 614 he was chosen Bishop of
Metz, though still a layman. He continued to act as adviser to King Chlotar II, whom he had
helped to the Frankish throne, and was tutor to his son Dagobert. Arnulf made further attempts
to resign his offices, but it was not till 629 that he was able to retire to the Vosges mountains.
Here his friend St. Romaric had preceded him and begun the monastic community at Habend that
was later called Remiremont. St. Arnulf settled near by, and lived there till his death twelve
years later.
The Avenel Dictionary of the Saints, Donald Attwater (New York; Avenel
Books, 1965).
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