Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1760
Presbyter Venantius Fortunatus wrote the "Life of Bishop Germanus of Paris" after AD 576. Account of Gregory of Tours, "Histories", Tours (Gaul), AD 573–594.
V.8
 
Quis tamen strenuus virtutes illius, quas in corpore fecit, sollicite vult inquirere, librum vitae illius, qui a Fortunato presbitero conpositus est, legens, cuncta repperiet.
 
(ed. Krusch 1937: 204)
V.8
 
Anyone who really wishes to find out about the miracles which [Bishop Germanus of Paris] performed in the flesh will learn about all of them by reading the book on his life written by presbyter Fortunatus
 
(trans. Thorpe 1974: 264, altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Fortunatus probably spent the years between 576 and 577 in Paris, where he also wrote the Life of Bishop Medardus, Germanus' predecessor. From late 577, he lived in Poitiers, of which city he became bishop at an unknown time (probably near the very end of sixth century). It is unsure when and where Fortunatus was ordained a presbyter.

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Paris

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 - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Writing activity
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1760, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1760