Adalhard

Adalhard abbot of Corbie, born about 753, died in 826. He was a son of Count Bernard, and a relative of Charles Martel. He was one of the first to oppose the pretensions of the nobility, and to preach openly that the laws must be equally obeyed by patricians and commoners. Charlemagne confided to him important missions, and appointed him his delegate at the Council of Rome in 809. After the death of this emperor he fell into disfavor, having been represented by the nobility to Louis the Debonair as an ambitious demagogue. He is commemorated as a saint, Jan. 2. Mabillon failed to publish his sermons. His Statuta Corbiensis Ecclesias was published, but very incorrectly, by d'Achery. Many other writings of Adalhard are still scattered and inedited. Some extracts of his Libellus de Ordine Palatii were given by Hincmar. See Radbert, Vita S. Adalhardi abbatis Corbiensis, 1617. — Hoefer, Biog. Generale, 1, 218.