St. Benedict of Aniane
Feb 11
Model of Monastic reform in France
Born in 747 to a family of noble decent, Benedict of Aniane was originally known as Witiza, or the Second Benedict. Benedict was trained and sent to serve as a cupbearer to King Pepin III and Blessed Charlemagne.
At the age of 26, Benedict joined Charlemagne in his 773 Crusade against the Lombards, a Germanic tribe settled in Italy.