Saints and Holy People

Find out about their lives and how they changed the world

Saint Gottschalk (d. 1066)

Saint Gottschalk (d. 1066)

Patron saint of princes, linguists, and translators

Feast day: June 7




Saint Gottschalk was a Christian prince of Wends (Slavic peoples living near Germany), but he turned his back on his religion when his father was murdered by a Christian Saxon. Gottschalk spent some time serving in the army of Canute of Denmark. He became a practicing Christian again when he married a Christian woman.

When he took back his own kingdom, he was instrumental in converting his subjects to Christianity. Gottschalk assisted his local priests in translating sermons into the Slavonic language. He was killed by his brother-in-law, who was the leader of an anti-Christian movement. Saint Gottschalk is the patron saint of princes, linguists, and translators.