Angilbert

Angilbert, (died 18 February, 814), was a Frank who served Charlemagne as a diplomat, abbot, and semi-son-in-law.

When Charlemagne sent his young son Pepin to Italy as King of the Lombards Angilbert went along as primicerius palatii, a high administrator of the satellite court. On a number of occasions he served as envoy to the popes.

In 790 he was named abbot of St. Riquier in northern France (often called by its Roman name, Centula). It was not uncommon for the Merovingian?, Carolingian?, or later kings to make laymen abbots of monasteries; the layman would often use the income of the monastery as his own and leave the monks a bare minimum for the necessary expenses of the foundation. Angilbert, in contrast, spent a great deal rebuilding St. Riquier, and when he completed it Charlemagne spent Easter of the year 800 there.

Angilbert's relationship with Bertha was evidently recognized - if she were not the daughter of the King historians might refer to her as his concubine. They had at least 2 sons, one of whom, Nithard?, became a notable figure in the mid-9th century.