Saint Sigisbert III (631-656) was King of Austrasia, a Frankish kingdom corresponding in part to present-day Lorraine. Son of King Dagobert I, he ascended the throne at the age of seven. Deeply pious, he encouraged the founding of monasteries, notably the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Metz and that of Stavelot-Malmedy. He was a just sovereign, but his reign was marked by the influence of the nobles and the mayor of the palace, Grimoald. After his death, he was venerated as a saint, especially in Lorraine, where his cult developed rapidly. His tomb at the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Metz became a place of pilgrimage.
