Abbo from Provence

Abbo († after 739) was a Frankish nobleman who resided in southern France.

Life

Abbo, who can be traced from 726 to 739, was the grandson of Marron and the son of Felix (Bishop of Turin ) and Rustica. The Bishop of Gap , Symphorien, was his uncle and guardian. Abbo belonged to the extensive family of Waldelenus († beginning of the 7th century), who came from the area around Besançon and later in the region of the cities of Susa (in Piedmont), Embrun and Gap (both in what is now the French department of Hautes-Alpes ) Ruled the Alpine passes to Italy.

Around 735 , Patricius or Dux Maurontus , who lived in Marseille , revolted against Karl Martell . As head of his family, Abbo, who was rector of Maurienne and Susa, was at the head of the resistance in Provence against Maurontus. This chose the Muslims of Septimania as allies. Abbo, on the other hand, helped Karl Martell in his campaign against Maurontus, which led into the lower Rhone valley in 736 , who was defeated, rebelled again in 737 and was defeated again by Karl Martell's half-brother Childebrand with the support of the Longobard King Liutprand . As a reward, Karl Martell named Abbo Patricius of Provence and gave him extensive lands (including in Piedmont ) which he had confiscated from the defeated enemies. Although Abbo had joined the Arnulfingers relatively late, he was quickly lifted into such a position of power because he had no legitimate heir. After his death, all his possessions and the family fortunes accumulated by his ancestors passed to the monastery in Novalesa in Piedmont (Italy), which he founded on January 30, 726, through his last will, written in 739 , which now came into the possession of the Carolingians . Perhaps Virgilia, whom he described as "much loved", was his daughter; to her he ceded part of his property. Abbo's will is an important source for the history of Provence in the early 8th century.

literature

• Patrick J. Geary : Before France and Germany . New York and Oxford 1988. Dt. The Merovingians . Munich 1996. pp. 207f.

• Ch.Roman : Abbon 17) . In: Dictionnaire de Biographie française . Volume 1 (1933), Col. 88f.