Itta

Who was Itta?

Saint Itta was the wife of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace of Austrasia. Her brother was Saint Modoald, bishop of Trier. Her sister was Abbess Saint Severa. There is no direct record of their parents, but it has been suggested that she was a daughter of Arnoald, Bishop of Metz, son of Ansbertus.

On the advice of the missionary Bishop of Maastricht Saint Amand, after Pepin's death, she founded the Benedictine nunnery at Nivelles, with a monastery under the abbess. She herself entered it and installed as abbess her daughter Gertrude, perhaps after resigning the post herself.

She had by Pepin another daughter, Abbess Begga of Andenne who married Ansegisel, son of Arnulf of Metz. By Begga, she is the grandmother of Pepin of Herstal and one of the matriarchs of the great Carolingian family. Her sons were Grimoald, later mayor of the palace, and father of King Childebert the Adopted.

Her second son Bavo, became a hermit and was later canonized. Both her daughters were later canonised, as was she. Her feast day is May 8.