Fastrada was born
circa 765 at
Ingelheim, the daughter of the powerful East Frankish Count Rudolph (also called Eadolf), and his wife, Aeda. Fastrada became the third wife of
Charlemagne, marrying him in October 783 at
Worms, Germany, a few months after Queen Hildegard's death. A probable reason behind the marriage was to solidify a Frankish alliance east of the Rhine when Charles was still fighting the Saxons. Moreover, a Carolingian king needed a queen for the court and palace to function effectively. Due to her influence
Pepin the Hunchback, son of Charlemagne and
Himiltrude, was publicly
tonsured after an attempted rebellion against his father. Fastrada soon won a reputation for cruelty, although this is reported by chronicler
Einhard in his
Vita Karoli Magni, who had not arrived at Charlemagne's court while she was still alive. Einhard blamed the rebellion on Fastrada's influence, perhaps partly to avoid blame being placed on Charlemagne's policies. Contemporary sources suggest that she played an active role alongside her husband. A letter from 785 has survived in which Charlemagne asked Fastrada to come to the
Eresburg with the children, although a letter only six years later he inquires about her health because he had not heard from her for a long time and tells her of a victory against the
Avars. In 793, Charlemagne introduced a coin type with Fastrada on it. It is the first known Carolingian coin with a queen named on it, a surprising change considering Charlemagne's tendency to remove any names but his own from coinage. Scholars suggest that Charlemagne was inspired to mint this coin after
Offa of Mercia had earlier done so for his wife
Cynetryth. After Christmas 793, Charlemagne and Fastrada went from
Wurzburg to
Frankfurt (in present-day Germany), where she died on 10 August 794 during the Synod of Frankfurt. Charlemagne is said to have never returned to the place of her death out of mourning for her. He had her buried at
St. Alban's Abbey, Mainz, before the abbey was finished, and had her silver spindle hung over the altar. Due to Archbishop
Richulf's influence, she was not buried in the
Basilique Saint-Denis, the burial site of almost all the Frankish and French monarchs, nor
St. Arnulf's Abbey near
Metz. Her tomb was of white marble, adorned with gold and statues. After the destruction of St. Alban's Abbey in 1552, her tombstone was transferred to
Mainz Cathedral, where it can be seen today in the wall of the southern nave. The inscription reads as follows: ==Children==