Aldegund was a 7th-century Frankish Benedictine abbess born in Cousolre. A member of the Merovingian royal family, she was the daughter of Count Walbert and Bertilla de Mareuil. Although she faced pressure to marry, she instead dedicated herself to religious life. She established a small hospital at Malbode on the banks of the Sambre, a site that eventually grew into the prominent Maubeuge Abbey. She is remembered as a central figure in the group of Merovingian saints known as the Maubeuge Cycle.
Life and work
Following her decision to enter the cloister, Aldegund founded a hospital at Malbode. This location later developed into the Maubeuge Abbey, where she served as abbess. She is believed to have been the sister of Saint Waltrude and was succeeded in her leadership role by her nieces, Aldetrude and Madelberte. She passed away in Maubeuge in 684 after suffering from breast cancer.
Veneration
The saint is honored within the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Her liturgical feast day is observed annually on January 30. While no contemporary biographies exist, her life has been documented in various early accounts, including a tenth-century biography by Hucbald which is included in the collections of the Bollandists.