The Presbyters Project

VII.47

Gravia tunc inter Toronicos cives bella civilia surrexerunt. Nam Sicharius, Iohannis quondam filius, dum ad natalis dominici solemnia apud Montalomaginsim vicum cum Austrighyselo reliquosque pagenses caelebraret, presbiter loci misit puerum ad aliquorum hominum invitationem, ut ad domum eius bibendi gratia venire deberint. Veniente vero puero, unus ex his qui invitabantur, extracto gladio, eum ferire non metuit. Qui statim cecidit et mortuus est. Quod cum Sicharius audisset, qui amicitias cum presbitero retinebat, quod scilicet puer eius fuerit interfectus, arrepta arma ad eclesiam petit, Austrighyselum opperiens. Ille autem haec audiens, adpraehenso armorum apparatu, contra eum diregit. Mixtisque omnibus, cum se pars utraque conliderit, Sicharius inter clericos ereptus, ad villam suam effugit, relictis in domo presbiteri cum argento et vestimentis quattuor pueris sauciatis. Quo fugiente, Austrighyselus iterum inruens, interfectis pueris, aurum argentum que cum reliquis rebus abstulit.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 366)

VII.47

A most serious civil discord now arose between the citizens of Tours. When Sicharius, the son of John, celebrated the festivities of the birth of the Lord in the village of Manthelan with Austrighyselus and other people from this region, the presbyter of this place sent his servant to invite some of those men to come to his house for a drink. When the servant arrived, one of those who were invited drew a sword and did not hesitate to strike him. [The servant] immediately fell down and died. As soon as Sicharius, who cultivated a friendship with this presbyter, heard that his servant had been killed, he seized his weapons and went to the church to wait for Austrighyselus. Having heard of this, Austrighyselus snatched up his own weapons and went to look for Sicharius. When all of them clashed and some combatants from both sides were struck down, Sicharius, brought safely out by the clerics, sought refuge in his villa. He left in the house of the presbyter four wounded servants with gold and robes. Once Sicharius had fled, Austrighyselus launched a second attack, killed the servants, and stole the gold and silver with some other things.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 428, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Judging by the place of this passus in Gregory's narrative, these events took place ca 585.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours
Manthelan

About the source:

Author: Gregory of Tours
Title: The History of the Franks, Gregorii episcopi Turonensis historiarum libri X, Histories
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory of Tours (Gaul) wrote his ten books of Histories (known commonly in English as the History of the Franks) during his episcopal reign in Tours between 573 and 594. The books vary in scope and length. The first book covers 5,596 years from the creation of the world to AD 397, that is the death of Saint Martin of Tours, Gregory`s predecessor in bishopric. The second book deals with the history of Gaul between 397 and 511, the latter being the year of death of King Clovis I. The third and fourth books cover the next 64 years till the death of Austrasian King Sigibert II in 575. Finally, the following six books describe exclusively the sixteen years from 575 to 591. Probably in 594, Gregory added the list of bishops of Tours in the end of the Histories, with brief accounts of their actions.

Edition:

B. Krusch ed., Gregorii Episcopi Turonensis Historiarum Libri X [in:] Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingiciarum 1.1, Hannover 1884 (repr. 1951): 1-537.

Translation:

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks, trans. L. Thorpe, London 1974.

Categories:

Food/Clothes/Housing - Food and drink

PR868.

Food/Clothes/Housing - Type of housing

PR868.

Entertainment - Feasting

PR868.

Functions within the Church - Rural presbyter

PR868.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR868.

Ritual activity - Celebrating feasts

PR868.

Conflict

PR868.

Friendship

PR868.

Relation with - Noble

PR868.

Conflict - Violence

PR868.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1913, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1913