St Sebaldus


St. Sebaldus of Nuremberg[1] (Sinibald, Sebald) is venerated as the patron saint of Nuremberg, traditional administrative centre of Franconia, and the guarantor of its independence.[2] According to legend Sebaldus was a hermit and a missionary.


Legend


Almost all details of the life of Sebaldus are uncertain, beyond his presence in the woodland of Poppenreuth, west of Nuremberg[3]which was explained by his being a hermit. However various legends about his life have been recorded.

 

One of the earliest legends (ca 1280) claims Sebaldus was a contemporary of Henry III (died 1056) and was of Franconian origin. After a pilgrimage in Italy, he became a preacher at Nuremberg.[4] Another text claims that he was a Frankish nobleman who met Willibaldand Winibald in Italy (thus dating his life to the 8th century) and later became a missionary in the Sebalder Reichswald that is associated with his name.[4] Other legends claim he was either the son of the king of Denmark or a student in Paris who married a French princess, but then abandoned her on their wedding night to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. In these versions of the legend the Pope gave Sebaldus the mission of evangelising in the forests of Nuremberg, which gives his ancient presence there a papal authority.

 
 



Monument of St Sebaldus (Nuremberg)
 
 
 

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