Radegund, French Sainte Radegonde, (died August 13, 587, Poitiers, France, queen of the Merovingian King Chlotar I, who left her husband to become a nun and later founded a monastery at Poitiers. She was one of the first of the Merovingian saints.

Radegund was born about 520 to Bertachar, one of the three Kings of the German land Thuringia. Radegund’s uncle, Hermanfrid, killed Bertachar in battle, and took Radegund into his household. After allying with the Frankish King Theuderic, Hermanfrid defeated his other brother Baderic. However, having crushed his brothers and seized control of Thuringia, Hermanfrid reneged on his agreement with Theuderic to share sovereignty.

In 531, Theuderic returned to Thuringia with his brother Clotaire I. Together they defeated Hermanfrid and conquered his Kingdom. Clotaire I also took charge of Radegund, taking her back to Merovingian Gaul with him. He sent the child to his villa of Athies in Picardy for several years, before marrying her in 540.

Radegund was one of Clotaire I’s six wives or concubines (the other five being Guntheuca who was the widow of his brother Chlodomer, Chunsina, Ingund, Ingund’s sister Aregund and Wuldetrada the widow of Clotaire’s grand-nephew Theudebald). She bore him no children. Radegund was noted for her almsgiving.

By 550 Radegund’s brother was the last surviving male member of the Thuringian royal family. Clotaire had him murdered. Radegund fled the court and sought the protection of the Church, persuading the bishop of Noyon to ordain her as a deacon; founding the monastery of Sainte-Croix in Poitiers circa 560, where she cared for the infirm. Radegund was widely believed to have the gift of healing

Radegund was captured about 531 by Chlotar I during an expedition against the Thuringians. She was educated in letters at his court, and, although she is said to have hoped from an early age to be a martyr, she eventually married the King. Her piety and continence were such, however, that he complained of having a nun rather than a wife for his Queen. Despite her rank, she displayed great humility, tending to the poor and the sick.