Medievalist Donald C. Jackman suggests that Bernhard's and Charlemagne's mothers may have been closely related.
[1] In 760, he and his two brothers (Hieronymus and Remigius) went to Italy on behalf of their half-brother Pepin to mediate between Pope Paul I and Desiderius.
They convinced Desiderius to return some of the cities he captured back to the papacy, but the Lombard king did not follow through on his promises.
Louis the Pious grew concerned regarding the power and influence bestowed on his cousins by his father, and shortly after being crowned Adalard was exiled to St. Philibert on Noirmoutier, (but later reinstated at court); Count Wala was forced to separate from his wife and take his brother's place at Corbie (also later reinstated); Bernhard was exiled to Lérins; and Gundrada was sent from court.
[7] Sabine Baring-Gould says Bernard was the grandfather of saint Ida of Herzfeld through his daughter Theodrada.