Ida of Lorraine 1 2
- Born: Abt 1040, Bouillon, Lower Lorraine, (Wallonia, Belgium)
- Marriage (1): Eustace II Count of Boulogne in 1057
- Died: 13 Aug 1113 about age 73
Research Notes:
Second wife of Eustace II.
From Wikipedia - Ida of Lorraine
Ida of Lorraine (also referred to as Blessed Ida of Boulogne)[1] (c. 1040 - 13 Apr 1113 )[2] was a saint and noblewoman.
She was born in Bouillon, Ardenne, South Belgium, the daughter of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine and his wife, Doda.[3].
Family
In 1057, she married Eustace II of Boulogne .[2] They had three sons:
Eustace III , the next Count of Boulogne
Godfrey of Bouillon , first ruler of Kingdom of Jerusalem
Baldwin , second ruler of Kingdom of Jerusalem
Ida shunned the use of a wet-nurse in raising her sons. Instead, she breast-fed them to ensure that they were not contaminated by the wet-nurse's morals.[4] When her sons went on the First Crusade , Ida contributed heavily to their expenses.[5]
Life
Ida was always religiously and charitably active, but the death of her husband provided her wealth and the freedom to use it for her projects. She founded several monasteries:
Saint-Wulmer in Boulogne[6][1]
Our Lady of the Chapel, Calais[1]
Saint-Bertin[1]
Abbey of Cappelle [7]
Abbey of Le Wast [7]
She maintained a correspondence with Anselm of Canterbury . Some of Anselm's letters to Ida have survived.[8] [9]
She became increasingly involved in church life. However, current scholarship feels that she did not actually become a Benedictine Nun, but that she was a "Secular Oblate of the Benedictine Order".[6][1]
Death and burial
Ida died on 13 April 1113, which is the date she is honoured. Traditionally, her burial place has been ascribed to the Monastery of Saint Vaast [6]. However, one author believes that the original burial place was the Monastery of Vast. Her remains were moved in 1669 to Paris and again in 1808 to Bayeux . [1]
Her life story was written by contemporary monk of Saint Vaast Abbey.[6]
She is venerated in Bayeux.[1]
Ida married Eustace II Count of Boulogne, son of Eustace I Count of Boulogne and Maud of Louvain, in 1057. (Eustace II Count of Boulogne was born between 1015 and 1020 in <Buckinghamshire>, England and died about 1087.)
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