The Presbyters Project

VII.17

Promotus vero, qui in Dunense castro ordinante Sigybertho rege episcopus fuerat institutus et post mortem regis amotus fuerat, eo quod castrum illud esset diocisis Carnotena, – contra quem ita iudicium latum fuerat, ut praesbiterii tantum officium fungeretur – accessit ad regem, depraecans, ut ordinationem episcopatus in antedicto castro reciperet. Sed, obsistente Pappolo Carnotenae urbis episcopo ac dicente, quia: "Diocisis mea est", ostendente praesertim iudicium episcoporum, nihil aliud potuit obtenere cum rege, nisi ea quae sub ipsius castri termino propria habebat reciperit, in qua cum genetrice adhuc superstite moraretur.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 338)

VII.17

Promotus had been installed as bishop of Châteaudun at the command of King Sigebert I. When the king died he had been removed [from his see] on the argument that this castle was in the diocese of Chartres. Extensive judgement was given against him, and it was decreed that he should perform only the office of a presbyter. He approached King [Guntram], asking that he might receive once more the episcopal ordination in the aforementioned castle. Pappolus, bishop of the city of Chartres, opposed [the petition]. "This is my diocese," said he, and referred particularly to the judgement of the bishops [made in this case, i.e. to the Fourth Council of Paris held in 573]. As a result, Promotus could obtain nothing else from the King than that he might have restored to him the private property he possessed in the region of this castle, in which he lived with his mother.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 400, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

The case of Promotus was the subject discussed at the Fourth Council of Paris in 573, see [1528]. Judging from Gregory's narrative, this event took place in ca 584.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Châteaudun
Chartres

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:

Former ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR687.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR687.

Economic status and activity - Ownership or possession of land

PR687.

Patronage/Investiture

PR687.

Conflict

PR687.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR687.

Relation with - Father/Mother

PR687.

Relation with - Monarch and royal/imperial family

PR687.

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

PR687.

Administration of justice - Demotion

PR687.

Administration of justice - Financial punishment

PR687.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1830, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1830