Herrad of Hohenbourg

Abstract

In mid-twelfth century, moved by military and political considerations, Frederick Barbarossa restored the ruined eighth century abbey at Mt. Ste. Odile, later known as the Hohenbourg. At his request, Rilinda, the abbess of Bergen, established eight nuns there sometime between 1147--1162, placing the women under the rule of St. Augustine.2 She was succeeded c. 1176 by the abbess Herrad. Details of Herrad's early life are unknown, although it seems safe to assume an aristocratic family, since a woman without noble birth is unlikely to have ruled such an important abbey. The name under which she was formerly known --- Herrad of Landsberg --- contributed to the presumption of nobility, but any connection to that particular family is now discredited.3 Although Herrad acknowledges that she was instructed by Rilinda's ``admonitions and examples'', it is not certain that Herrad was in fact a pupil of Rilinda, nor even necessarily educated at the abbey of Hohenbourg.4