 Hildegard was born around the year 1098, although the exact date is uncertain.Her parents were Mechtild of Merxheim-Nahet and Hildebert of Bermersheim, a family of the free lower nobility in the service of the Count Meginhard of Sponheim.Sickly from birth, Hildegard is traditionally considered their youngest and tenth child, although there are records of only seven older siblings.