The Presbyters Project

VI.20

Eo anno Chrodinus obiit, vir magnifice bonitatis et pietatis, aelimosinarius valde pauperum que refector, profluus ditatur eclesiarum, clericorum nutritur. Nam sepe a novo fundans villas, ponens vinias, aedificans domus, culturas eregens, vocatis episcopis, quorum erat parva facultas, dato epulo, ipsas domus cum culturibus et culturis, cum argento, parastromatibus, utensilibus, ministris et famolis benigne distribuebat, dicens: "Sint haec aeclesiae data, ut, dum de his pauperes reficiuntur, mihi veniam obteneant apud Deum". Multa enim et alia bona de hoc viro audivimus, quae insequi longum est. Transiit autem aetate septuagenaria.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 288-289)

VI.20

Chrodinus died in this year [i.e. 582]. He gave alms to all and a was a man of great virtue and piety. He relieved the wants of the poor, endowed churches most lavishly and supported the clergy (clericorum nutritur). He would lay out new estates, plant vineyards, build houses and prepare land for cultivation. Then he would call in those bishops whose revenue was small, give them a meal and share all the buildings among them, with the farm-workers and the land which he had cleared, adding money, hangings, utensils, servants and slaves, in the most affable way. "These are for the Church," he would say. "They must be used to relieve the needs of the poor. They will gain me grace in the eyes of God." I have heard many other good reports about Chorodinus, but I have no space for them here. He was seventy when he died.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 350, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Dux Chrodinus was mayor of the palace of Austrasia during King Sigebert's reign (561–575). He probably remained in his position during the first years of rule of Sigebert's successor, King Childebert II. See PCBE Gaule 1: Chrodinus.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

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

Economic status and activity - Indication of poverty

Economic status and activity - Gift

Patronage/Investiture

Relation with - Noble

Livelihood/income

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1820, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1820