Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1822
Abbot Lupentius from the church of Saint Privatus in Javols is summoned, questionned, and proved innocent by Queen Brunichildis. On the way back to Javols, Lupentius is killed by Count Innocentius of Javols, ca AD 584. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 584-594.
VI.37
 
Lupentius vero abba basilicae sancti Privati martyris urbis Gabalitanae, a Brunichilde regina arcessitus, advenit. Incusatus enim, ut ferunt, fuerat ab Innocentio supradictae urbis comite, quod profanum aliquid effatus de regina fuisset.
Lupentius was found innocent and sent back to Javols. On his journey, he was captured by Innocentius and tortured in the villa of Pontico (probably present-day Ponthion). Released, Lupentius continued his travel and set camp near the river of Axona (Aisne), where he was beheaded by Lupentius. His head and the rest of the body, weighted with stones, were thrown to the river. By miracoulous intervention, the body was found by the shepherds, and reunioned with the head with the help of the eagle who had fished it out. The complete corpse was buried and the miracles started to occur near the tomb.
  
(ed. Krusch 1937: 308-309)
VI.37
 
Abbot Lupentius of the basilica of the martyr Saint Privatus of the city of Javols was summoned by Queen Brunichildis and appeared before her. They say that he had been accused by Innocentius, count of that city, of making libellous remarks about the queen.
Lupentius was found innocent and sent back to Javols. On his journey, he was captured by Innocentius and tortured in the villa of Pontico (probably present-day Ponthion). Released, Lupentius continued his travel and set camp near the river of Axona (Aisne), where he was beheaded by Lupentius. His head and the rest of the body, weighted with stones, were thrown to the river. By miracoulous intervention, the body was found by the shepherds, and reunited with the head with the help of the eagle who had fished it out. The complete corpse was buried and the miracles started to occur near the tomb.
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 366-370, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Judging from the Gregory's narrative, these events took place in ca 584.
 
Queen Brunichildis, widow of King Sigebert I, acted as the regent of Austrasia to her son, King Childebert II, roughly between the years 577 and 584.
 
Basilica of Saint Privatus is located some twenty-five km south-east of Javols, in present-day Mende.
 

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Javols
  • Mende
  • Ponthion

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:

Travel and change of residence
Functions within the Church - Urban presbyter
Described by a title - Abba
Fame of sanctity
Relation with - Monarch and royal/imperial family
Relation with - Secular authority
Relation with - Noble
Conflict - Violence
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1822, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1822