LiobaLeoba

Lioba, also known as Leoba, was an Anglo-Saxon nun and abbess. Born around 740 AD, she was related to prominent figures in the Anglo-Saxon church. She was educated at Wimborne Abbey, a renowned center of learning for women in Dorset, England.

In the 750s, Lioba was sent to the Frankish kingdoms along with other nuns at the request of Saint Boniface, the Archbishop of Mainz. Boniface, an English missionary, was working to reform and establish Christianity in the region. Lioba was instrumental in this effort, founding and leading the monastery of Tauberbischofsheim in Franconia. She was known for her piety, her scholarly abilities, and her effectiveness as an abbess.

Lioba's influence extended beyond her own monastery. She maintained correspondence with other important church leaders and fostered a strong community of religious women. Her reputation for wisdom and holiness was widespread. She is considered one of the prominent female figures of the missionary era in continental Europe. Lioba died in 782 AD and was later venerated as a saint. Her life and work are primarily known through early medieval biographies, most notably the "Vita Leobae" by Rudolph of Fulda.