The Presbyters Project

VI.13

Lupus urbis Turonicae civis, cum, uxore perdita ac liberis, clericatum expeteret, a fratre Ambrosio prohibitus est, timens, ne heredem institueret Dei ecclesiam, si ei coniungeretur.

Ambrosius even found a bride for Lupus, but before they could marry both brothers were killed by the lover of Ambrosius' wife.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 283)

VI.13

Lupus, a citizen of Tours, who had lost both his wife and his children, wished to enter the clergy, [but] was prohibited [to do so] by his brother Ambrosius, who was afraid that if he joined the Church of God he would make it his inheritor.

Ambrosius even found a bride for Lupus, but before they could marry both brothers were killed by the lover of Ambrosius' wife.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 344, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Judging from the Gregory's narrative, these events took place in ca 581.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Marseille
Aix-en-Provence

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 - Permanent relationship before ordination

Family life - Widowerhood

Described by a title - Clericus

Economic status and activity - Indication of wealth

Economic status and activity - Inheritance

Relation with - Brother/Sister

Reasons for ordination

Impediments or requisits for the office

Devotion - Donations and offerings

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1815, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1815