Eigil of Fulda

Who was Eigil of Fulda?

Eigil was the fourth abbot of Fulda. He was the nephew and biographer of the abbey's founder and first abbot Saint Sturm. We know about Eigil primarily from the Latin Life that the monk and teacher of Fulda, Candidus Bruun composed about him after his death.

Eigil's parents, who were nobles of Norica, sent him to the abbey of Fulda for his education. Sturm died in 779 and was succeeded by Baugulf.

The next abbot, Ratgar, with his excessive severity, caused deep divisions in the monastery. In 811, monks from Fulda, possibly including Egil, petitioned Emperor Charlemagne to remove the abbot. Finally, in 817, Ratgarius was denounced by the monks. Charlemagne's son and successor, Louis the Pious, banished Ratgar and sent two of his delegates, Aaron and Adalfrid, along with their associates to reform the abbey according to proper monastic discipline . Eigil was elected in 818, and, says Candidus, brought harmony to the monastery once again. In a poem, his student and successor Hrabanus Maurus celebrated his clemency and gentleness,supporting Candidus' positive portrait.

Under Eigil, several building projects were dedicated at Fulda. In 819, the Archbishop Haistolf came to Fulda to dedicate the Basilica of Saint Boniface, and Boniface's holy relics - his bones - were translated to the new Basilica.