# Folcwin

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Saint **Folcwin** or **Folcuin** (Latin: *Folquinus, Folcwinus, Folcvinus*;[1][2] [Old Dutch](/source/Old_Dutch): **Folkwin*; French: Folquin) (d. 14 or 15 December 855) was a [Frankish](/source/Franks) abbot, cleric, and [Bishop of Thérouanne](/source/Bishop_of_Th%C3%A9rouanne) (appointed 816).

## Biography

Folcwin was born to [Hieronymus, son of Charles Martel](/source/Hieronymus,_son_of_Charles_Martel), and his wife Ercheswinda (Ermentrudis). He was appointed [bishop of Thérouanne](/source/Bishop_of_Th%C3%A9rouanne) in 816 and confirmed by [Louis the Pious](/source/Louis_the_Pious); he was consecrated in 817 by the [Archbishop of Reims](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Reims), likely [Ebbo](/source/Ebbo). He seems to have remained loyal to Louis. Folcwin participated regularly in synods, including the synods of [Ingelheim am Rhein](/source/Ingelheim_am_Rhein) (840), Paris (846/7), [Quierzy](/source/Quierzy) (849), and Soissons (853). [Charles the Bald](/source/Charles_the_Bald) appointed him as [Missus dominicus](/source/Missus_dominicus) for one of the twelve West-Frankish *missatica*, one which apparently overlapped mostly with his diocese.[3]

Folcwin was closely tied to the [Abbey of Saint Bertin](/source/Abbey_of_Saint_Bertin); in 843 he returned the relics of [Audomar](/source/Audomar) (the founder of Bertin) to Sithiu (now [Saint-Omer](/source/Saint-Omer)). Archbishop [Hincmar](/source/Hincmar) of Reims asked Folwin for relics for the dedication of the altar in [Reims Cathedral](/source/Reims_Cathedral); with the Normans threatening, Folcwin sent off relics of Ss [Bertin](/source/Bertin) and [Winnoc](/source/Winnoc) for security reasons.[3]

Folcuin died on 15 December 855 during an official visit to [Esquelbecq](/source/Esquelbecq). During his lifetime Charles the Bald seems to have already tried to forcefully appoint a successor; after his death, Hincmar made every effort to have his successor be appointed through a process originating in Thérouanne. Folcuin's remains were elevated on 16 November 928, and [translated](/source/Translation_(relic)) in 1181. The earliest evidence of a cult is found in the work of his relative, [Folcuin](/source/Folcuin), [abbot of Lobbes](/source/Lobbes_Abbey),[3] who produced the *Gesta abbatum Sithiensium* (or *Gesta abbatum Sancti Bertini*, "Deeds of the Abbots of Saint-Bertin"), a combination of [chronicle](/source/Chronicle) and [cartulary](/source/Cartulary). Folcuin incorporates numerous charters from the abbey's archives into his historical narrative, which begins with the abbey's foundation around 650 and continues to 961/2. It was composed at the request of the lay abbot, [Adalolf](/source/Adalolf).[4]

Evidence from a hagiographical manuscript from the time of abbot Odbert (986-1007) shows that Folcwin, along with [Silvin of Auchy](/source/Silvin_of_Auchy) (whose body was in Saint-Bertin, after [Arnulf I](/source/Arnulf_I,_Count_of_Flanders) stole it from [Auchy-les-Moines](/source/Auchy-l%C3%A8s-Hesdin)), Bertin, and Winnoc, was "fundamental to [the] institutional identity" of the monks in Saint-Bertin. Folcwin's name is found in liturgical manuals from the area by the beginning of the eleventh century.[5]

He is venerated in the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) on 14 December,[3] as well as the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church).

The first part of the [Latin](/source/Latin) [cartulary](/source/Cartulary) of [St Bertin](/source/Abbey_of_Saint_Bertin)'s is credited to St Folquin.[6] A review of his life was written during the next century by his grand nephew [Folcuin](/source/Folcuin), abbot of Lobbes, on request of Walter, abbot of Saint-Bertin.

## Note

Some sources say he died on the 15th of December, some say the 14th.

## See also

- [Saint-Folquin](/source/Saint-Folquin), a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department named for Folcwin
- Saint [Hunfrid of Prüm](/source/Hunfrid_of_Pr%C3%BCm), successor of Folquin as Bishop of Thérouanne

## References

1. Mansi, Gian Domenico (1748-01-01). [*Sanctorum conciliorum et decretorum collectio nova, seu Collectionis conciliorum a P. P. Philippo Labbeo et Gabriele Cossartio,... primum vulgatae, dein emendatioris et amplioris opera Nicolai Coleti,... Venetiis recusae, supplementum, in quo additamenta, variantes, lectiones, emendationes ad concilia veneto-labbeana, nova itidem concilia ac decreta permulta exhibentur. Omnia ex editis et mss. codicibus... collegit... additisque praefationibus, notis... illustravit Joannes Dominicus Mansi,...*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_jzYiF_ZvsUC&dq=%22folcvinus%22&pg=PA930) (in Latin). ex typographia J. Salani et V. Junctinii.

1. ["Charter AbteiSanctGallen|39411fee-0fff-4e52-ad13-73ef457f4e5c - Monasterium.net"](http://monasterium.net/mom/AbteiSanctGallen/39411fee-0fff-4e52-ad13-73ef457f4e5c/charter). *monasterium.net*. Retrieved 2017-02-06.

1. Berings, Geert (1999). "Folcuin. 1. F.". *[Lexikon des Mittelalters](/source/Lexikon_des_Mittelalters)*. Vol. 4. 607/608.

1. "Folcuin of St. Bertin". *[Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle](/source/Encyclopedia_of_the_Medieval_Chronicle)*. [doi:10.1163/2213-2139_emc_SIM_01716](https://doi.org/10.1163/2213-2139_emc_SIM_01716)

1. Vanderputten, Steven (2012). ["Crises of Cenobitism: Abbatial Leadership and Monastic Competition in Late Eleventh-Century Flanders"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41473996). *[The English Historical Review](/source/The_English_Historical_Review)*. **127** (525): 259–284.

1. [*Collection des cartulaires de France; 3. Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Bertin. Appendice au cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Bertin. Tome 3*](http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k29276b). M. Guérard. 1840. p. 49.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Folcwin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folcwin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folcwin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.