The Presbyters Project

VII.38

Mane vero, reseratis portarum valvis, emisso exercitu, omne vulgus inclusum in ore gladii tradiderunt, sacerdotis quoque Domini cum ministris ad ipsa aeclesiarum altaria trucidantes.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 350)

VII.38

When day dawned the gates [of Comminges] were flung open and the army [of King Guntram] was allowed in. All the common people were put to the sword, and the priests of the Lord were slaughtered with the ministers at the very church altars.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 424, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

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

The phrase in ore gladii comes from Josh 6:21.

King Guntram's forces were commanded by Leudegisel, who was serving as the rector of Provence in King's name. Comminges was occupied by Gundovald, a pretender to Guntram's throne, and his supporters. The city was sacked, even though Gundovald was at that time already dead.

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.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Public law - Secular

Relation with - Soldier/Warrior

Administration of justice - Secular

Administration of justice - Capital punishment

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, ER1905, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1905