Ansoald ( la, Ansoaldus) was the

bishop of Poitiers The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Poitiers (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Pictaviensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Poitiers'') is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in France. The archepiscopal see is in the city of Poitiers. Th ...

from 676 until about 696.This is according to . , write that his dates are unknown. Ansoald was probably a

Burgundian Burgundian can refer to any of the following: *Someone or something from Burgundy. *Burgundians, an East Germanic tribe, who first appear in history in South East Europe. Later Burgundians colonised the area of Gaul that is now known as Burgundy (F ...

from the region around Autun. He inherited land from both his parents near

Chalon-sur-Saône Chalon-sur-Saône (, literally ''Chalon on Saône'') is a city in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; h ...

. In the second version of the '' Suffering of Leodegar'', it is claimed that Ansoald was a relative of the martyred Leodegar. Although the second version of the ''Suffering'' was dedicated to Ansoald, it was probably composed in the middle of the 8th century by Ursinus, long after his death. The ''

Gesta Dagoberti The ''Gesta Dagoberti'' ('Deeds of Dagobert'), fully ''Gesta domni Dagoberti regis Francorum'' ('Deeds of Lord Dagobert, King of the Franks'), is an anonymous Latin biography of Dagobert I, king of the Franks (623–639). It combines deeds from t ...

'', a late and legendary source, claims that Ansoald was passing through Sicily on a diplomatic mission when King Dagobert I died (639). The reported vision of a local hermit named John, supposedly told to Ansoald, describes Dagobert's narrow escape from Hell with the help of some saints. After the return to power of the mayor of the palace

Ebroin Ebroin (died 680 or 681) was the Frankish mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681. In a violent and despotic career, he strove to impose the aut ...

in 674 or 675, Ansoald hosted the exiled Philibert of Jumièges and helped him found the new . His lands at Chalon he donated to the new monastery. He also founded a ''

xenodochium In the early Middle Ages, a xenodochium or (from Ancient Greek , or ''xenodocheion''; place for strangers, inn, guesthouse) was either a hostel or hospital, usually specifically for foreigners or pilgrims, although the term could refer to charita ...

'' (hospice) for travellers. The '' Life of Eligius'' claims that Ansoald was close to the circle of followers of

Columbanus Columbanus ( ga, Columbán; 543 – 21 November 615) was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries after 590 in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms, most notably Luxeuil Abbey in present-day France and Bobbio Abbey in pr ...

. According to the '' Deeds of the Bishops of Cambrai'', Ansoald was at the royal palace when he learned of the miracles that followed the martyrdom of Leodegar. Probably around 681 or 682, he disputed the possession of the body of the martyr with Bishops Hermenar of Autun and Vindician of Cambrai. Ansoald claim the body on the grounds that he was related by blood to the martyr and that Leodegar had also previously been abbot of the in the diocese of Poitiers. Ansoald won possession of the martyr through the drawing of lots. He had a church built to house the body at Saint-Maixent, which was probably dedicated on 30 October 684. Ansoald rebuilt the church of Mazerolles. He has also been credited with the restoration work on the baptistery of Saint-Jean in Poitiers, which is the best preserved Merovingian structure in France.

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