Hydulphe of Lobbes

Hydulphe, Hydulphus, Hidulphe, Hidulf, commonly known as Hydulphe of Lobbes was a Frankish saint who helped Saint Landelin establish Lobbes Abbey, Crespin Abbey, and Aulne Abbey.

Biography Saint Hydulphe was born in 630 AD in Austrasia, Francia during the Middle Ages.

He was the grandson of Walbert III. His father, Brunulphe II, was the son of Brunulphe of Cambrésis.

Hydulphe became the husband of Saint Aye, his cousin and the daughter of Brunulphe, Count of the Ardennes (Saint Walbert IV's younger brother). Aye's mother was Vraie (or Vraye) Freya, daughter of the lord of Boulogne. Hydulphe married Aye of the Ardennes around 655 AD, a match arranged by his parents at the instance of the King of the Franks. Upon marrying, they made a shared vow of continence.

Following the counsel of Saint Ghislain, Saint Waltrude planned to withdraw to the mountain of Châteaulieu and requested Hydulphe to negotiate for the land and build a place dedicated to prayer. He also helped Landelin establish the Lobbes Abbey, Crespin Abbey, and Aulne Abbey, living nearby at Mont Hydulphe. Hydulphe, no longer content with founding and protecting monasteries, sought to renounce his wealth. He then spent his life as a monk at Lobbes Abbey. The feast day of Saint Hydulphe was formerly celebrated in Lobbes and Binche on 23 June.

In the 15th century, the relics of Saint Hydulphe were moved to Binche and became part of the church of Sainte Marie's eight relics. A bone from his arm was left in Lobbes, and his head was preserved in a silver reliquary at the church.