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| Tebow, not Thibault |
Actually, he was called Theobald, named after an uncle, Saint Theobald of Vienne (May 21). At the time, the Germans had the upper hand in Europe, extending their so-called Holy Roman Empire (not really very holy, or very Roman) all the way into Italy. But after the Franks really got French culture going, Theobald became Thibault, or even Thibeault. Once the Americans got their hands on it, it became Tebow, which takes us back to saints (holy people, rather than
Saints, the unholy bounty-hunters).
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| He gave up living here... |
If Arnoul, the Count Palatine of Champagne, had was disappointed that he got a saint instead of a warrior, he probably should not have named him after his holy uncle. But he did, and for a while at least, he was sorely tested by this. From an early age, Thibault was disposed to read about and emulate the desert hermits. When he could get away, he'd row out to a little island in the Seine where a hermit named Burchard lived. He learned and practiced as much as he could from the monk, even as Count Arnoul was busy trying to set him up in life. Every time his dad came up with a proposal -- marry this girl, take this spot at the royal court, join these guys on a military campaign -- Thibault said he'd rather just fast and pray.
They finally had it out when King Rodolphe of Burgundy died. Thibault's cousin Odo was Rodolphe's son. Naturally, he moved to claim the throne. Conrad II, the Holy Roman Emperor, also jumped for it. Arnoul asked his son to lead their army in support of Cousin Odo, but Thibault's response was (as always) that he'd rather just fast and pray. They quarreled, but in the end his dad relented. (Odo lost by the way, so it was just as well that the Champagne troops stayed home.)
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| ...to live here instead. |
Thibault and his pal Walter set off to become woodland hermits for a while. They hired themselves out as day laborers to local farmers. When word got around that they were young noblemen, which could not have been difficult to discern given their soft manners and lack of familiarity with manual labor) they were heralded as living saints. Of course this presented the temptation of vanity, so they were off on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. On the return journey they passed Count Arnoul and his wife, but they were so ragged and weather-beaten that Thibault's parents didn't recognize him. Afraid of being revealed again, they hustled out of the region, eventually making it to Rome.
They settled near Vicenza, where Walter died. Thibault was ordained a priest, but as he had feared, his recognition brought his parents for a visit. Fortunately, they were overjoyed that he had done so well. Dad congratulated his son before heading back home to govern Champagne. Mom, however, stayed and learned the hermit's life in a quiet little cell that her son helped her built.
Thibault had the good luck to cap off his career two ways: he became a
Camaldolese monk and he contracted a miserable, painful disease that ulcerated his flesh all over his body. What more could a saint want than that?
He is considered one of the patron saints of bachelors, winegrowers, and belt makers.
