The Presbyters Project

V.49

Count Leudastis was a personal enemy to Gregory of Tours. He did him many wrongs, which are impossible to enumerate, and hence, Gregory describes only the most grievous offence.

Igitur post multa mala quae in me meisque intulit, post multas direptiones rerum ecclesiasticarum, adiuncto sibi Riculfo presbitero simili malitia perverso, ad hoc erupit, ut diceret, me crimen in Fredegundem reginam dixisse.

Count Leudastis had yet another accomplice named Riculfus. He served as a subdeacon in Tours. For his actions against Gregory, he was promised to be given the office of archdeacon.

Sed Riculfus presbiter, qui iam promissionem de episcopatu a Leudaste habebat, in tantum elatus fuerat, ut magi Simonis superbia aequaretur. Qui tertio aut eo amplius mihi sacramentum super sepulchrum sancti Martini dederat, in die sexta paschae in tantum me conviciis et sputis egit, ut vix manibus temperaret, fidus scilicet doli quem praeparaverat.

Indeed, the next day, Archdeacon Plato of Tours and a certain Galienus, the alleged witnesses to Gregory's crime, were put in chains and brought before Queen Fredegundis.

(ed. Krusch 1937: 259)

V.49

Count Leudastis was a personal enemy to Gregory of Tours. He did him many wrongs, which are impossible to enumerate, and hence, Gregory describes only the most grievous offence.

Therefore, after he had done much wrong to me and my [people, probably those who came with Gregory from Clermont, see 1791], after he had pillaged the Church property, joined by presbyter Riculfus, who was corrupted by similar wickedness, [Leudastis] went so far as to claim that I had talked of [committing] a crime against Queen Fredegundis.

Count Leudastis had yet another accomplice named Riculfus. He served as a subdeacon in Tours. For his actions against Gregory, he was promised to be given the office of archdeacon.

As for the other Riculfus, who had already been promised episcopacy [of Tours] by Leudastis, he was so elated that in his pride he was equal to Simon the Sorcerer. Although he had sworn loyalty to me three or more times on the tomb of Saint Martin, on the sixth day of Easter he spat at me and hurled such insults that he had great difficulty in keeping his hands off me, so sure was he of the trap which he had prepared for me.

Indeed, the next day, Archdeacon Plato of Tours and a certain Galienus, the alleged witnesses to Gregory's crime, were put in chains and brought before Queen Fredegundis.

(trans. Thorpe 1974: 312-313, altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

These events took place in the year 580.

The deeds of Count Leudastis are also presented in records [1783] and [1791].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

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

PR805.

Conflict

PR805.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR805.

Relation with - Noble

PR805.

Episcopal ambitions

PR805.

Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics

Devotion - Vows

PR805.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1790, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1790