Anstrude or Austrude, virgin (c. 700): Probably the daughter of St
>Salaberga, founder of an abbey at Laon; succeeded her mother as abbess.
>
The redoubtable Krusch, editor of Sadalberga's life for the MGH, thought
the Vitae of both mother and daughter were ninth century forgeries.
Levison, editor of Anstrude's life was prepared to believe that there was a
Merovingian original from which the ninth century version was drawn. I have
discussed this and the political tangles of the story in the introduction to
both lives in McNamara, Halborg and Whatley, Sainted Women of the Dark Ages.
I might add that of all the saints in that book, only these two leave no
traces behind them in a modern church. The monastery Sadalberga founded
remained in the hands of women until the twelfth century when it was
dissolved and given over to men who did not maintain the foundress's cult
Jo Ann
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