Nithard was

bishop of Liège A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

, in the

Low Countries The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...

, from 1038 to 1042.

Life

Nithard, who had lived in

Liège Liège ( ; ; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Liège Province, province of Liège, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east o ...

for decades, was elected bishop in succession to his uncle Reginard, on the endorsement of

Wazo of Liège Wazo of Liège (c. 985 – 1048) was bishop of Liège from 1041 to 1048, and a significant educator and theologian. His life was chronicled by his contemporary Anselm of Liège. During this period Liège became known as an educational center. W ...

, who had been ahead in the voting and would eventually be elected as his successor. The monastic chronicler

Renier of St Laurent Renier of St Laurent (died 1188) was a twelfth-century Benedictine monk of St Laurent Abbey, Liège. He is known as a writer of theological and exegetical works, controversial and historical works, and numerous biographical and hagiographical works ...

recorded that Nithard had kept for himself the riches that his uncle had intended to be used for the benefit of his soul after his death. Alphonse Delescluse, "Nithard", ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' (; ) is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ''Nouvelle Biographie Nationale'' (, ...

''
vol. 15
(Brussels, 1899), 749-750. Immediately after his election, Nithard travelled to Italy, where his appointment was confirmed by Henry III,

King of the Romans King of the Romans (; ) was the title used by the king of East Francia following his election by the princes from the reign of Henry II (1002–1024) onward. The title originally referred to any German king between his election and coronatio ...

, at

Nonantola Nonantola ( Modenese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is in the Po Valley about from Modena on the road to Ferrara. History In ancient times the territory of Nonantola was in ...

in January 1038. In August 1039 he attended upon the king in

Maastricht Maastricht ( , , ; ; ; ) is a city and a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It is the capital city, capital and largest city of the province of Limburg (Netherlands), Limburg. Maastricht is loca ...

. On 17 and 24 January 1040 his presence was again attested in the royal entourage, at

Augsburg Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part of Swabia, Germany, around west of the Bavarian capital Munich. It is a College town, university town and the regional seat of the Swabia (administrative region), Swabia with a well ...

and

Ulm Ulm () is the sixth-largest city of the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with around 129,000 inhabitants, it is Germany's 60th-largest city. Ulm is located on the eastern edges of the Swabian Jura mountain range, on the up ...

respectively. In Ulm the emperor granted the bishop the County of Haspinga. On 5 June 1040 Nithard was among the bishops who accompanied the king to the

Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy The Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy, also Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, sometimes known with its German name Stablo, was an Hochstift, ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Princely power was exercised by the Order of Sai ...

for the consecration of the new church, built by Abbot Poppo. On 29 December 1040 Nithard was in

Münster Münster (; ) is an independent city#Germany, independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a ...

for the consecration of an altar there, and on 3 June 1041 he was at

Aachen Aachen is the List of cities in North Rhine-Westphalia by population, 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, 27th-largest city of Germany, with around 261,000 inhabitants. Aachen is locat ...

, seeking royal favour for the

Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, Nivelles The Collegiate Church of St. Gertrude () is a Roman Catholic collegiate church in Nivelles, Walloon Brabant, Belgium, which was built in the 11th century. It is dedicated to Saint Gertude, the patron saint of cats. History This church was built ...

. He died in Liège on 11 August 1042 and was buried in the cathedral, to which he had donated considerable treasures.

References

{{S-end 10th-century births 1042 deaths Prince-bishops of Liège 11th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Holy Roman Empire