The Presbyters Project

V.18

Post haec sonuit, quod Merovechus iterum basilica sancti Martini conaretur expetere. Chilpericus vero custodire basilicam iubet et omnes claudi aditus. Custodis autem unum osteum, per quod pauci clerici ad officium ingrederentur, relinquentes, reliqua ostea clausa tenebant; quod non sine taedio populis fuit.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 223)

V.18

It was rumoured that Merovech was again trying to seek sanctuary in the basilica of Saint Martin. Chilperic had the basilica closely guarded and all approaches blocked. The guards left one door free, through which a few of the clerics could enter to [perform] the office, but kept the rest closed, which was no small inconvenience to the people.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 282, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

These events took place, according to Gregory, at the same time as the Fourth Council of Paris; that is, in 577.

For Presbyter Merovechus, see [1765].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

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:

Described by a title - Clericus

Ritual activity - Divine office/Liturgy of the hours

Relation with - Secular authority

Relation with - Townsman

Pastoral activity - Granting asylum

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1768, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1768