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ER 1780
Presbyter Transobadus from Rodez (Gaul) wants to become a bishop of that city. He improves his chances by commending his son to Gogo, the guardian of King Childebert II. He also holds a feast for the clerics of Rodez. At the feast, one of the presbyters speaks ill of his late bishop and dies in effect, shortly after 580. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 580-594.
V.45
 
Bishop Dalmatius of Rodez, a very pious man, died.
 
Post cuius obitum multi, ut fit, episcopatum petibant. Transobadus vero presbiter, qui quondam archidiaconus eius fuerat, maxime in hoc intendibat, fidus, quod filium suum cum Gogone, qui tunc regis erat nutricius, commendaverat. Condidirat autem episcopus testamentum, in quo regis exenium quid post eius obitum accepiret indecabat, adiurans terribilibus sacramentis, ut in ecclesia illa non ordinaritur extraneus, non cupidus, non coniugali vinculo nexus, sed ab his omnibus expeditus, qui in solis tantum dominicis laudibus degebat, substitueritur. Transobadus autem presbiter epulum in ipsa urbe clericis praeparat. Resedentibus autem illis, unus praesbiterorum coepit antestitem memoratum inpudicis blasphemare sermonibus et usque ad hoc erupit, ut eum delerum et fatuum nominaret.
The presbyter died instantly after his outburst. Archdeacon Theodosius of Rodez is ordained bishop of this city.
  
(ed. Krusch 1937: 256-257)
V.45
 
Bishop Dalmatius of Rodez, a very pious man, died.
 
After his death, as per usual, there were many who desired episcopacy. Presbyter Transobadus, who had once been his [Dalmatius'] archdeacon, had high hopes, trusting to the fact that he had commended his son to Gogo, who was then acting as a guardian (nutricius) to the king. Bishop [Dalmatius] had left a will in which he indicated who should accept the gift [of the episcopate] from the king after his death. He urged [the king] with terrible oaths not to ordain for this Church a stranger, nor a covetous man, nor someone bound by marital ties, but to be replaced by someone free of all these [vices], who would spend time only on praising the Lord. Meanwhile, the presbyter Transobadus prepared a feast for the clerics from that city [Rodez]. While they were seating [at the feast], one of the presbyters begun to revile the aforementioned bishop with most shameful words and burst with such [anger] that he called him a madman and a fool.
The presbyter died instantly after his outburst. Archdeacon Theodosius of Rodez is ordained bishop of this city.
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 312-313, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

These events took place shortly after the death of Dalmatius ca 580. King Childebert II was at that time ten years old.

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Rodez

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:

Family life - Offspring
Entertainment - Feasting
Former ecclesiastical career - Deacon
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Specific number of presbyters from the same church
    Conflict
    Relation with - Another presbyter
    Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
    Relation with - Deacon
    Relation with - Lower cleric
    Relation with - Children
    Relation with - Noble
    Episcopal ambitions
    Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1780, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1780
    Record by: Jerzy Szafranowski
    last edited: 2019-05-06 13:01:26
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