The Presbyters Project

V.25

In the third year of the reign of King Childebert II, that is, in 578, a noble called Dacco left the king's service. He is captured by Dracolenus, taken to the king (who resided at that time in Brennacum, present-day Berny-Rivière), and accused of various crimes.

Ille quoque cum vinctus deteneretur et cernerit se paenitus non evasurum, a presbitero, rege nesciente, paenitentiam petiit. Qua accepta, interfectus est.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 231)

V.25

In the third year of the reign of King Childebert II, that is, in 578, a noble called Dacco left the king's service. He was captured by Dracolenus, taken to the king (who resided at that time in Brennacum, present-day Berny-Rivière), and accused of various crimes.

He [Dacco] was kept tied up and, having realised that he had no chance of escape, he asked for penance from a presbyter, unbeknownst to the king. After he had done penance, he was killed.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 287-288, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

It is interesting that Gregory emphasises the fact that the king did not know about Dacco's wish. Was it because the king would forbid it, as an additional punishment?

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Berny-Rivière

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 - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ritual activity - Reconciliation/Administering penance

Relation with - Noble

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1775, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1775