Career
She is first mentioned after the year 1000. She is the patron saint of the Utrecht city Rhenen in the Netherlands, and against cattle and throat diseases. When Saint Ursula of Cologne and her ten thousand virgins in Cologne, Germany during the fourth century were attacked by the Huns, Cunera—a princess from York—was saved by the Frisian King Radbod, who took her to his castle at Prattenburg in Rhenen.
Here she was deeply loved for her kindness and care for the poor around the castle.
This aroused the jealousy of Aldegonde, Radboud"s wife. She was buried in a cowshed.
By a miracle the crime was discovered. Problems arise when one takes a closer look at the authenticity of the story.
There is no evidence that Saint Ursula ever existed.
Furthermore, there is no account of a 4th-century Frisian king Radbod. There was a king Radbod in the 8th century, but he was famously antiChristian. Only after his successor Poppo was defeated by Charles Martel did Frisia begin to be Christianized.
lieutenant would have been nearly impossible to find a Christian Frisian in the 4th century, let alone a king.
Utrecht bishop Saint Willibrord had Cunera venerated three centuries later. There was a great pilgrimage to Rhenen.
Eventually this led to the consecration of Street Peter at Cunera and later to the construction of the Cunerakerk and Tower (completed in 1531). The relics were moved to Emmerich in the Duchy of Cleves and to Bedaf in Uden.
Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht hosts the "wurgdoek" of Cunera, with which she was strangled, woven of Coptic linen.
The feast of Cunera is celebrated on June 12.
