The Latin Life of *Fulgentius (bishop of Ruspe, ob. 533, S02975) recounts his early life and monastic activity, his election to the see of Ruspe (central North Africa), his exile to Sardinia, and his eventual return and death in Ruspe; during his lifetime Ruspe is protected from the Moors, but not after his death. Written in central North Africa, possibly by the deacon Ferrandus, not long after the death of Fulgentius in 533. Overview entry
E08277
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives
The text is dedicated to the successor of Fulgentius, Bishop Felicianus of Ruspe. The general fame of holiness surrounding Fulgentius is described, as well as the value of his books.
The childhood of Fulgentius, born in Carthage to parents of senatorial rank, is described (ch. 1). The young Fulgentius strives for the monastic life and despite the vigourous opposition of his mother, becomes a disciple of Bishop Faustus, who, exiled by the Vandals, is leading a monastic life (ch. 2-4). Fulgentius conducts outstanding ascetical practices. He moves to another monastery and is made an abbot of it (ch. 5). He travels to Sicca and is whipped on the orders of an Arian presbyter (ch. 6-7). Fulgentius wants to travel to Egypt to learn the monastic life there, but the winds guide him first to Syracuse in Sicily. The bishop of the city, Eulalius, warns him that Egypt is engulfed in schism, so Fulgentius goes to Rome, where he venerates the tombs of the Apostles (ch. 8-9, see E08268).
Fulgentius returns to Africa, founds another monastery, and then becomes a simple monk (ch. 10-12). However, afterwards he is against his will made a presbyter and later the bishop of Ruspe (ch. 13-14). The clothing of Fulgentius is described (ch. 15). He founds a monastery in Ruspe (ch. 16). The Vandal King Thrasamund sends the Catholic bishops to exile in Sardinia, where Fulgentius becomes their leader (ch. 17-19). The king fetches Fulgentius back to Carthage to have a doctrinal dispute with him; before his departure back to Sardinia, Fulgentius prophesies that soon freedom will be given to the Catholics and the exiles will return to Africa (ch. 20-21). Fulgentius is said to have been sceptical about the miracles performed by the saints, although some can be attributed to him (ch. 22, see E08269).
He returns to Sardinia and leads an exemplary monastic life there (ch. 23-24). When, after the death of Thrasamund, the clerics came back from exile in 523, the crowds welcome them with enthusiasm, marking out Fulgentius (ch. 25-27, see E08265).
Fulgentius dies [in 533] and is buried in the basilica of Ruspe. His presence protected Ruspe from the incursions of the Moors during his lifetime, but they ravage the city after his death (ch. 28, see E08254). Fulgentius appears to Bishop Pontianus of Thenae on the anniversary of his own death, when Felicianus is consecrated as the new bishop of Ruspe (ch. 29, see E08270).
Summary: Stanisław Adamiak.
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Source
None of the manuscripts transmitting the "Life of Fulgentius" provides the name of its author. It was firstly attributed to Ferrandus, a deacon of Carthage and a close associate of Fulgentius, by Chifflet in 1649. This theory was largely accepted, by, among others, G.G. Lapeyre, who offered a critical edition of the "Life" in 1929. It was however rejected by A. Isola in his 2016 edition for Corpus Christianorum, who retains it an anonymous work. It is dedicated to Felicianus, the successor of Fulgentius on the see of Ruspe, so it must have been written in a reasonable span of time after the death of Fulgentius in 533.Bibliography
Edition:Isola, A. (ed.), Vita S. Fulgentii episcopi (Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 91F; Turnhout: Brepols 2016).
Stanisław Adamiak
04/02/2022
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S02975 | Fulgentius, bishop of Ruspe, ob. 533 | Fulgentius | Certain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Stanisław Adamiak, Cult of Saints, E08277 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E08277