Hodierna of St Albans
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Hodierna of St Albans (
fl. ''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...
1150–1210) was the mother of
Alexander Neckam Alexander Neckam (8 September 115731 March 1217) was an English magnetician, poet, theologian, and writer. He was an abbot of Cirencester Abbey from 1213 until his death. Early life Born on 8 September 1157 in St Albans, Alexander shared his b ...
and
wet nurse A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, or if she is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cu ...
of
Richard I of England Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was overl ...
. Hodierna is also known as Audierne. According to legend,
Richard I Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was ...
and
Alexander Neckam Alexander Neckam (8 September 115731 March 1217) was an English magnetician, poet, theologian, and writer. He was an abbot of Cirencester Abbey from 1213 until his death. Early life Born on 8 September 1157 in St Albans, Alexander shared his b ...
were born on the same day. The astrological significance of these two births may be the reason Hodierna was chosen as wet nurse. The boys were breastfed together, although as heir to the throne Richard was given the right breast which was believed to produce richer milk. Wet nurse to the young princes was an honoured position and Hodierna was given a home in the King's Houses. However, if Richard became ill or died, Hodierna could be blamed. Transitioning into a nanny role as Richard got older, Hodierna was Richard's main source of maternal affection in his early years as his mother was often away. Richard did not forget Hodierna as he got older. Records show that when he was King, Richard gave Hodierna a generous pension. The village of West Knoyle in
Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...
was formerly known as Knoyle Hodierne after her.


References

12th-century English women 12th-century English people Wet nurses {{England-bio-stub