The Presbyters Project

VII.31

The bishopric of Dax was promised by King Chilperic to Count Nicetius of that city, brother of Bishop Rusticus of Aire. After Chilperic's death, Gundovald, king's illegitimate son and usurper to his throne, decided to appoint the presbyter Faustianus instead. Since the metropilitan bishop of Bordeaux, Bertram, was afraid to it, Faustianus was ordained by Bishop Palladius of Saintes, in the presence of Bishop Orestes of Bazas.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 351-352; summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

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

Faustianus could be the presbyter at Dax or Bordeaux, since this was the city where Gundovald resided.

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Bordeaux
Dax

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:

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR866.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR866.

Patronage/Investiture

PR866.

Reasons for ordination - Patronage

PR866.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1904, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1904