A statue of Saint/Queen Bathilde in the Saint-Peter Church of Corbie.
Queen Bathilde, also known as Saint Bathilde, was a significant figure in Merovingian France during the 7th century. Born around 626 AD, likely of Anglo-Saxon origin, she was initially enslaved and brought to the Frankish court. Through her intelligence and grace, she captured the attention of King Clovis II of Neustria and Burgundy, whom she eventually married, rising from slavery to royalty. As queen, Bathilde was known for her humility, piety, and dedication to social reform. She championed the abolition of Christian slavery and supported the establishment of monasteries, which would become centers of learning and charity. After her husband's death, she served as regent for her young son, King Clotaire III, guiding the kingdom with a wise and just hand. Later canonized as a saint, Bathilde's legacy lives on in the history of the church and in the social reforms she enacted, earning her a place of reverence in French and Christian history.
