What is "gudula"

Saint Gudula was born in the pagus of Brabant (in present-day Belgium). According to her 11th-century biography (Vita Gudilae), written by a monk of the abbey of Hautmont between 1048 and 1051, she was the daughter of a duke of Lotharingia called Witger and Amalberga of Maubeuge. She died between 680 and 714.

Her name is connected to several places:

• Moorsel (where she lived)
• Brussels (where a chapter in her honour was founded in 1047)
• Eibingen (where the relic of her skull is conserved).

In Brabant she is usually called Goedele or Goule; (, later , , ).