Research Notes:

The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris names "Heribertus, Bernhardi frater" when recording that he was sent to suppress the rebellion of "Hodo consobrinus illius", the latter surrendering and being exiled. "Willelmus…comes" names "filiabus meis et filiis Barnardo, Witchario, Gotcelmo, Helimbruch" (version two: "filios meos et filias Witcario, Hildehelmo et Helinbruch") in his charter dated 14 Dec 804 (version two: dated 15 Dec 804) for the foundation of the monastery of Gellone, it being possible that "Helimbruch" refers to Heribert and is not a separate person. His birth date range is estimated on the basis of his having been adult in 809 when he was probably recorded in Spain... It is not entirely clear that Heribert was the full brother of Bernard. In the Manual of Dhuoda (written in 843), Doda reminds her son that, when a member of his family dies, he should add the deceased's name to the list of family members for whom prayers should be said. She adds at the end of the paragraph a reminder that he should do the same in respect of "domno Ariberto avunculo tuo". There are three possible explanations for this special position accorded to Heribert in the text. The obvious case is that Heribert, because of his disgrace and mutilation, was considered to have forfeited his rights to the respect generally accorded to deceased family members, Doda thinking it worthwhile to remind her son that this was not the appropriate way to treat his uncle. The second possibility is that he was not so obviously a "family member" as the other named individuals, either because he was illegitimate or because he was a uterine half-brother of Bernard. The third possibility, although this appears less likely, is that Heribert was Bernard's brother-in-law, bearing in mind the strict meaning of the word avunculus as maternal uncle. However, the Manual refers only to the need to pray for the family of Bernard's father, in which case it would seem odd for the text to single out Heribert from all other maternal relatives if he was related to Bernard through his mother.

The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris records that "Heribertum" was awarded Tortosa after its capture [in 809], which it is assumed refers to Heribert son of Duke Guillaume as no other contemporary with this name has so far been identified. If this is correct, Heribert must have been one of his father's older children, certainly older than Bernard assuming that the latter's birth date is correctly estimated to [795]. The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris names "Heriberto" as missus of King Louis I [in 812]. Nithard names "Herbert" brother of Bernard Duke of Septimania, when recording that he was captured, blinded and imprisoned in Italy in [Apr 830] when his brother was banished by the sons of Emperor Louis I. The Annales Bertiniani record the capture and blinding of "Herebertum fratrem Bernardi" in 830. The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris records that "Heribertus Bernhardi frater" was blinded [in 830] and exiled with "Hodo consobrinus illius". The previous passage in the Vita records that Orléans was confiscated from Eudes Comte d'Orléans. It is possible that he was the same person as "Hodo", although the precise nature of the relationship between him and Heribert has not been established. ¹