Chlodulf was a 7th-century bishop of Metz and the son of Arnulf, a former bishop of the same see. Despite a youthful reputation for impiety and having previously married and fathered a son, he eventually entered religious life. Following the death of his predecessors, he was compelled by the clergy and the king to accept the bishopric in 657. He served as the leader of the diocese for forty years, during which time he focused on correcting local abuses and supporting the impoverished.