The Presbyters Project

VII.30

Igitur Gundovaldus duos ad amicos suos legatus derigit, clericus utique. Ex quibus unus abba Caturcinae urbis litteras quas acciperat, cavatam cudicis tabulam, sub cera recondidit. Sed adpraehensus ab hominibus regis Gunthchramni, repertis litteris, in regis praesentia est deductus; qui caesus gravissime, in custodia est retrusus.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 350)

VII.30

Gundovald then sent two messengers, both of them clerics, to his supporters. One of the two, the abbot of the city of Cahors, carried a letter which he had hidden under the wax of his hollowed-out wooden tablets. He was captured by King Guntram's men and the letter was discovered. He was taken before the king, severely beaten and thrown into prison.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 412–413, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

These events took place one year after the death of King Chilperic in 584.

This abbot was probably a presbyter responsible for a basilica rather than a monastic superior. For more on presbyters described as abbates, see Pietri 1983. Since he is also described as a cleric – even if he was indeed a monastic superior – he was surely ordained and quite likely invested in presbyterial office.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Cahors

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.

Bibliography:

L. Pietri, Les abbés de basilique dans la Gaule du VIe siècle, "Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France" 69 (1983), pp. 5–28.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

PR865.

Described by a title - Abba

PR865.

Monastic or common life - Monastic superior (abbot/prior)

PR865.

Ecclesiastical administration - Administering Church property

PR865.

Public functions and offices after ordination - Envoy

PR865.

Public law - Secular

PR865.

Relation with - Monarch and royal/imperial family

PR865.

Administration of justice - Secular

PR865.

Administration of justice - Corporal punishment

PR865.

Conflict - Violence

PR865.

Administration of justice - Imprisonment

PR865.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1903, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1903