Women's Biography: Bugga, abbess

The details of the selected biography:  

There are letters written to and by Bugga, abbess.


Woman's name:

Bugga, abbess

Woman's title:

abbess

Woman's biography:

Bugga was abbess of a monastery in Kent who was a correspondent and friend of Boniface. She was related to King Ethelbert of Kent, who wrote to Boniface on her recommendation, after she had met with him in Rome (probably 738--39), where she visited holy places with him, and asked him to offer counsel and prayers for the king as he had for her (ep.105). She may be the Heaburg-Bugga whose mother Eangyth, herself an abbess, wrote in both their names to Boniface (see Eangyth, ep.14).(!1) The date of her death is mentioned by archbishop Bregowin of Canterbury in a letter to bishop Lul (ep.117) who says they celebrate it.

Biographical notes:

(!1) Duckett is cautious about this identification but says it is possible that they are the same; Eckenstein has doubts; Schulenburg accepts it. See Eleanor S. Duckett, Anglo-Saxon Saints and Scholars (New York: Macmillan, 1947, 371, fn55; Lina Eckenstein, Woman under Monasticism (New York: Russell and Russell, 1963, first pub.1896), 131; and Jane T. Schulenburg, Forgetful of Their Sex (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1998), 333.

Birth date:

Birth place:

Death date:

759-65? on December 27

Letters

Sender(s): Receiver(s): Date:
Bugga, abbess  Boniface  c.720 
Boniface  Bugga, abbess  before 738 
Boniface  Bugga, abbess  732-54