Chrodegang 1 was a Frankish bishop; he and Autchar 1 went to Rome as envoys of the Frankish king Pippin (Pepin 1) to escort pope Stephen III (II) (Stephanos 8) to Francia; when they arrived, they found Stephanos 8 on the point of setting out to visit the Lombard king Aistulf 1: Lib. Pont. 94. 18 ("missi iamfati Pippini regis Francorum coniunxerunt, id est Rodigangus episcopus et Autcharius dux"). The papal party (accompanied by the Frankish envoys) left Rome on 14 October 753: Lib. Pont. 94. 19. While Autchar 1 went on ahead of the party to await the arrival of pope Stephanos 8 in Ticinum, Chrodegang 1 apparently stayed behind with Stephanos 8: Lib. Pont. 94. 20.

In Ticinum (Pavia) the Frankish envoys put pressure on Aistulf 1 to allow Stephen III (II) to visit Francia: Lib. Pont. 94. 22 ("praedicti vero Francorum missi"). In the presence of Chrodegang 1 ("praesente Rodigango sanctissimo episcopo"), Aistulf 1 asked Stephanos 8 if he really wanted to go, and finally gave his permission: Lib. Pont. 94. 23. During pope Stephanos 8's visit to Francia he gave Chrodegang 1 the pallium and made him archbishop: Lib. Pont. 94. 53 (later recension) ("et dum in Francia esset positus, Rodigango sanctissimo viro episcopo pallium tribuit et archiepiscopum ordinavit").

Chrodegang 1 was the bishop of Metz; his mission to pope Stephen III (II) is recorded also in Paul the Deacon, Gesta episcoporum Mettensium (PL 95, 709): "cumque esset (Chrodegangus) in omnibus locuples, a Pippino rege omnique Francorum coetu singulariter electus, Romam directus est, Stephanumque venerabilem papam, ut cunctorum vota anhelabant, ad Gallias evocavit" (cited in Duchesne, Lib. Pont., p. 457, note 22). He came of a noble Frankish family and was bishop of Metz for twenty-three years: Paul. Diac., Gesta episcoporum Mettensium (PL 95, 709-710) (where further details of his family and career are recorded). His epitaph survives; see Duchesne, Lib. Pont., p. 461, note 63 (the text is cited in PL 89, 1054); the same note also discusses the circumstances of his elevation to archbishop.

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