Saint Hydulphe was born in 630 AD in
Austrasia,
Francia during the
Middle Ages. He was the grandson of
Walbert III. His father, Brunulphe II, was the son of Brunulphe of Cambrésis. Hydulphe became the husband of
Saint Aye, his cousin and the daughter of
Brunulphe, Count of the Ardennes (Saint
Walbert IV's younger brother). Aye's mother was Vraie (or Vraye) Freya, daughter of the lord of
Boulogne. Hydulphe married Aye of the Ardennes around 655 AD, a match arranged by his parents at the instance of the King of the Franks. Upon marrying, they made a shared vow of continence. Following the counsel of
Saint Ghislain,
Saint Waltrude planned to withdraw to the mountain of Châteaulieu and requested Hydulphe to negotiate for the land and build a place dedicated to prayer. He also helped
Landelin establish the
Lobbes Abbey,
Crespin Abbey, and
Aulne Abbey, living nearby at Mont Hydulphe. Hydulphe, no longer content with founding and protecting monasteries, sought to renounce his wealth. He then spent his life as a
monk at
Lobbes Abbey. ==Death==