WALO [Walacho] ([772/73]-Bobbio 31 Aug 836). Einhard's Annales record "Walach comes filius Bernhardi" as one of the signatories of peace with the Vikings in 811[24]. The Vita Adalhardi refers to "quinque…viri propagati…maior natu senex noster sanctissimus…", referring to Adalhard, "…deinde Wala…"[25]. There does not appear to be any direct proof that Walo was born from his father's second marriage, other than the indirect indication from the twenty year difference between the estimated birth dates of Walo and Adalhard [I]. A list of Saxons in Ostphalia dated Jan/Feb 802 records that "Fredegarium filium Wicharii habuit Walah", presumably indicating that the last named had responsibility for the allegiance sworn to the emperor by the first-named[26]. Assuming that this refers to Walo son of Bernard, it shows that he bore the title count only after this date, as the source specifies the titles in the case of many other individuals who are named. The Translatio Sancti Viti names "Walonem" as "frater prioris Adalhardi"[27]. Governor of Saxony. Einhard names "Walacho comes" as one of the 15 witnesses of the testament of Emperor Charlemagne dated 811[28]. Einhard's Annales record that "Walanem filium Bernhardi patruelis sui" was sent to Italy in 812 as guardian for "Bernhardum filium Pippin nepotem suum [Karoli imperatoris]"[29]. The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris names "Walam et Warnarium, necnon et Lambertum sed et Ingobertum" as missi [in 813], recording that "Warnarius comes…accito nepote Lantberto" acted without the knowledge of "Wala et Ingelberto"[30]. Walo became a monk in [814/15] following the death of Emperor Charlemagne. Einhard'sAnnalesrecord that Emperor Louis I sent "Walahum monachum propinquum suum [imperatoris] fratrem…Adalhardi abbatis" to Italy in 822 with "Hlotharius…filiumsuum"[31]. Abbé de Corbie 826-836, in succession to his brother. He became abbot of Bobbio in Italy in 836. The Vita Hludowici Imperatoris records that "Wala Corbeiensis abbas, Matfridus, Hugo, Lantbertus, Godefridus, itemque filius eius Godefridus, Agimbertus comes Pertensis…sed et Richardus" died between "Kal Sep usque ad missam sancti Martini" [in 836][32]. m ---. No explicit reference to the wife of Walo has so far been found in primary sources. However, the Vita Wala names "sceleratus Naso…Amisarius" when recording Walo's exploits in Spain, states that Walo married "sororem ipsius, filiam nobilissimi viri…", and adds that her brother was blinded[33]. Settipani cites sources which, from these references, identify Walo's wife as the sister of Bernard Marquis de Septimanie and Heribert (who was blinded) and therefore daughter of St Guillaume Comte de Toulouse. Assuming that this identification is correct, of the possible candidates Settipani eliminates Helmburgis from the known daughters of Guillaume, suggesting that she died young, as well as Gerberga, who was murdered in 834 at Chalon by allies of Walo, which leaves Chrodlindis [Rothlindis], daughter of [St] Guillaume Comte de Toulouse, as the only possibility[34]. The link is credible but is not without doubt, particularly because of the uncertainties about the parentage of Heribert which are discussed below. Walo & his wife had one child