Bertha of Bingen was an 8th-century noblewoman descended from the dukes of Lorraine. After the death of her pagan husband, Robolaus, she moved to the Rupertsberg region with her young son, Rupert, and a priest named Wigbert. She lived a life of asceticism, characterized by fasting and prayer, while using her considerable wealth to assist the poor. Her life and spiritual devotion were later documented by the mystic Hildegard of Bingen, who helped establish her reputation as a saint.
Life and devotion
Bertha managed significant properties along the Rhine and Nahe rivers. Following her husband's passing, she focused on raising Rupert and fostering a religious community. She eventually donated all her remaining possessions to support her spiritual path. After Rupert's death, she continued her secluded life for twenty-five years before passing away around 757.
Veneration and relics
Centuries later, Hildegard of Bingen founded a monastery at the site where Bertha and Rupert were buried. Although the original monastery was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, their remains were preserved. Bertha's head is currently housed in the Hildegard Church, while other relics are kept in Eibingen and Bingen.