Aldric of Le Mans

Who was Aldric of Le Mans?

Saint Aldric was Bishop of Le Mans in the time of Louis the Pious.

As a youth Aldric lived in the court of Charlemagne, at Aix la Chapelle, as well as in that of Charlemagne's son and successor Louis. Aldric was highly esteemed by both monarchs, but at the age of twenty-one he withdrew to Metz and became a priest. He was then recalled to the court by Louis, who took him as the guide of his conscience.

Nine years after his ordination, Aldric was made Bishop of Le Mans. Apart from being conspicuously virtuous, he showed a practical turn in building aqueducts and ransoming captives, as well as building new churches and restoring monasteries.

In the civil wars which followed the death of Louis, Aldric's loyalty to Charles the Bald resulted in his expulsion from his see, and he withdrew to Rome. Gregory IV reinstated him. As an emissary of the Council of Aix la Chapelle Aldric visited Pepin I, who was then King of Aquitaine, with Erchenrad, Bishop of Paris, and persuaded Pepin to order that all the possessions of the Church which had been seized by his followers should be restored.