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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Theban Legion, commanded by Maurice, martyrs of Agaune, Gaul

Saint ID

S00339

Number in BH

BHL 5737-5764 (Mauritius), 8584-8590 (Victor and Ursus)

Reported Death Not Before

286

Reported Death Not After

286

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Soldiers
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00367Gregory of Tours writes the Glory of the Martyrs (Liber in Gloria Martyrum), in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594. Overview entry.
E00586Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (61), tells of a church in Cologne (north-east Gaul) on the site where 50 soldiers from the *Theban Legion (soldiers and martyrs of Agaunum, S00339) had been martyred and thrown into a pit, and how Eberigisil, bishop of Cologne and a contemporary of Gregory, was healed with dust from this church. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00587Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (62), describes how Eberigisil, bishop of Cologne and a contemporary of Gregory, built a church of *Mallosus (martyr of Xanten, S00340) in Birten, by Xanten (north-east Gaul), to replace an earlier oratory, and how the saint's body was discovered thanks to a vision experienced by a deacon from Metz; in the same church *Victor (martyr of Xanten, S00341) was said to be buried. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00621Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (74), tells of the penance, endowment of the shrine, and eventual burial of *Sigismund (king of the Burgundians, ob. 523, S00380), at the tomb of the martyrs of the *Theban Legion (soldiers and martyrs of Agaunum, S00339) at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul); healing miracles take place at Sigismund's tomb. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00622Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (75), relates two miracles connected to the tomb and monastery of the *Theban Legion (soldiers and martyrs of Agaunum, S00339) and its commander Maurice, in Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul): a woman saw a vision of Maurice and then heard her son (a recently deceased monk) singing with the choir; a priest, bringing relics of the martyrs to King Guntram, calmed a storm on Lake Leman by casting them into the waters. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E02419Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.31), recounts how he, the nineteenth bishop of Tours, sought relics of the *Theban Legion (soldiers and martyrs of Agaunum, S00339), which he had been told were in Tours; found the reliquary with their relics and the relics of other (unnamed) martyrs and confessors in the church of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050); kept vigils and masses to honour the saints; placed some of these relics in the cathedral of Tours; placed relics of *Cosmas/Kosmas and Damianus (brothers, physician martyrs of Syria, S00385) in Martin’s cell adjoining the cathedral; decorated the walls of Martin’s church; built the new baptistery there and placed in it relics of *John the Baptist (S00020) and *Sergius (soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023); placed relics of *Benignus (martyr of Dijon, S00320) in the old baptistery at Martin's church; and wrote seven books of Miracles and The Life of the Fathers; all in 573-594. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.
E03249The Latin Martyrdom of *Secundus (martyr of Victimulae and Turin, S02500) narrates Secundus’ travel to Italy with a legion, his trial and death witnessed by the future martyr *Mauritius (commander of the Theban legion, S00339), who holds vigils at his body on the site of martyrdom in Victimulae (close to Turin, northern Italy); the theft of the body which is brought to Turin and buried next to the river Dora, where miracles abound. Additional account about visitors to the oratory of *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033) in Turin taking dust and scraps from the tomb of Iuliana, who buried the saint *Solutor and his companions (martyrs of Turin, S01116). Written presumably in Turin, at an uncertain date, by the early 9th c. at the latest.
E03573The author of the Copenhagen Continuation of Prosper, an anonymous continuation of the Latin chronicle of Prosper of Aquitaine, records that the Lombard duke Zafan was defeated in battle near Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul), where the *Theban Legion and its commander Maurice (S00339), were martyred. Composed in northern Italy, c. 625.
E04964The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 22 September.
E05555Venantius Fortunatus writes eleven books of Poems in Latin, mainly in western and north-western Gaul, 565/600; many of them with reference to saints. Overview entry.
E05640Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem (2.14) On the saints of Agaune, writes of relics of *Maurice and the Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaunum, S00339), and invokes their support. Written in Latin, probably at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul), 565/567.
E05859The Calendar of Willibrord, in its earliest version, records the feasts of various saints in September. Written in Latin at Echternach, Frisia (north-east Gaul), 703/710.
E05898In the preface to the anonymous Latin Life of the Jura Fathers, the author addresses John, a monk at Agaune (eastern Gaul), and describes him as reclining upon the tomb of *Maurice (commander of the Theban Legion, S00339). Written at Condat in the Jura mountains (modern Saint-Claude in eastern Gaul), 512/525.
E05931The Chronicle of Fredegar (4.1 and 4.14) describes how in the year 583/4 King Guntram built a church near Chalon-sur-Saône (eastern Gaul), dedicated to *Marcellus (martyr of Chalon-sur-Saône, S00323), and held a council to confirm the foundation, modelled on that held by King Sigismund of the Burgundians in 515 to confirm his foundation of the monastery at Agaune (eastern Gaul) dedicated to the martyrs of the *Theban Legion (S00339). Later, Guntram is buried there. Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700.
E05933The Chronicle of Fredegar (4.22) describes the discovery of the body of Victor, martyr of the *Theban Legion (S00339), in a church at Geneva (eastern Gaul) in 602. Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700.
E05939The Chronicle of Fredegar (4.79) states that when he died in 639, King Dagobert I was buried at Paris in the church of *Dionysius/Denis (bishop and martyr of Paris, S00349), and describes his patronage of the church, including an attempt to establish a perpetual chant modelled on the practice of the monastery at Agaune dedicated to the *Theban Legion (S00339). Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700.
E05956The Chronicle of Fredegar (3.68) mentions that the monastery at Agaune (eastern Gaul) dedicated to the *Theban Legion (S00339) was sacked during a Lombard incursion into Gaul in 574. Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700. This part of Fredegar's text is based on Gregory of Tours' Histories, but includes material not in Gregory.
E05959Marius of Avenches, in a chronicle written in Latin at Avenches (eastern Gaul), c. 581, describes how the monastery dedicated to the *Theban legion (S00339) at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul) was sacked by the Lombards in 574.
E05965The will of Desiderius, bishop of Cahors (ob. c. 655), summarised in the Latin Life of Desiderius (E08220), leaves property to churches or monasteries in and around Cahors (south-west Gaul), dedicated to fourteen named saints or pairs of saints. Summary written in Cahors, c. 670/700.
E06133Seventeen authentic Merovingian royal diplomas survive from before 700 which record the gifts, confirmations and favourable rulings of Frankish kings for the monastery dedicated to *Dionysius (bishop and martyr of Paris, S00349) outside Paris (Saint-Denis), housing the relics of the saint alongside those of his companions Eleutherius and Rusticus. Written in Latin in Gaul, 584/625-694.
E06245Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem on virginity (8.3), when describing the court of heaven lists numerous saints with the cities of their resting-place. Written in Latin in Gaul, probably in the early 570s.
E06246Ten episcopal charters of debated authenticity, granting privileges of immunity to monasteries, record various dedications to saints at monastic churches in Gaul. Some of the charters note among their precedents the special privileges already enjoyed by the church at Chalon-sur-Saône dedicated to *Marcellus (martyr of Chalon-sur-Saône, S00323) and 'the place of the saints of Agaune' (north-east Gaul), i.e. its monastery dedicated to *The Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaune, S00339). Written in Latin in Gaul, 637-92.
E06316The Latin Martyrdom of *Germanus (abbot and martyr of Grandval, ob. c. 675, S02401) by Bobolenus records the saint's life at Trier, Remiremont, Luxeuil and Grandval; his murder; and his posthumous cult and miracles. Written perhaps at Grandval, Luxeuil or Lure (all eastern Gaul), or possibly Bobbio (northern Italy), c. 675/700.
E06319The Lives of the Abbots of Habendum (Remiremont, eastern Gaul) records the abbacies and early cults of *Amatus (ob. 627, S02407), *Romaric (ob. 653, S02973) and *Adelphius (ob. c. 670, S02974). Written in Latin in Gaul, probably at Habendum, c. 670/700.
E06492The Latin Life of *Rusticula, also known as Marcia (abbess of Arles, ob. 627/632, S02433), is written by the presbyter Florentius; it recounts her pious childhood, her many years as abbess of the monastery of saint John at Arles (southern Gaul), her political travails, and several lifetime and posthumous miracles. Written in southern Gaul, c. 627/640. Overview entry.
E06493The Latin Life of *Sadalberga (abbess of Laon, ob. 671/8, S02434) records the saint's life, miracles, and death. Written perhaps at Laon (north-east Gaul), c. 680.
E06976A probably partly authentic papal letter of privilege issued by Pope Eugenius I grants special rights to the monastery at Agaune (south-east Gaul) dedicated to *Maurice and the Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaune, S00339). Written in Latin at Rome, 654/7.
E07115Avitus of Vienne delivers a homily (Homily 25) at the dedication of the monastery of Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul), founded by King Sigismund, where the *Theban Legion (commanded by *Maurice, martyrs of Agaunum, S00339) was venerated; AD 515. Delivered in Latin at Agaune, in 515.
E07669Jonas' Life of *Iohannes/John (abbot of Réomé, 5th/6th c., S02829) records the life, miracles, death and translation of the saint at Réomé (eastern Gaul). Written in Latin, probably at Réomé or Marchiennes (north-east Gaul), 659 (or shortly after).
E07725Passage added in some manuscripts of the Passion of the Agaunensian Martyrs describing the discovery and translation of the body of Innocentius, one of the Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaunum, Gaul, S00339). Written in Latin, probably at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul), c. 500.
E07789Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (3.5-6), states that the Burgundian king Sigismund went to the monastery of the *Theban legion (S00339) at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (eastern Gaul) to pray for forgiveness after killing his son in 522, and established the custom of perpetual psalm-singing there. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
E07794Passage added in some manuscripts of the Passion of the Agaunensian Martyrs, describing miracles at the shrine dedicated to the *Theban Legion at Agaune (eastern Gaul) and the perpetual psalm-singing instituted there by *Sigismund (king of the Burgundians, ob. 523, S00380), who is described as a saint and martyr. Written in Latin, at Agaunum (eastern Gaul), probably in the later 6th or 7th century.
E07851The Latin Life of the Jura Fathers describes the basilica of the *Theban Legion (S00339) at Agaune (eastern Gaul), c. 440/460. Written at Condat in the Jura mountains (modern Saint-Claude in eastern Gaul), 512/525.
E08000The Latin Life of *Rusticula (abbess of Arles, ob. 627/632, S02433) describes how Rusticula dedicated a basilica in Arles (southern Gaul) first to the Cross, then to *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), and dedicated altars in a separate building to the Cross, and to the archangels *Gabriel and *Raphael (S00192, S00481), the Apostle *Thomas (S00199), and the martyrs *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00400), *Mauricius (martyr of the Theban Legion, S00339), and *Pontius (martyr of Cimiez, S01486). Written in southern Gaul, c. 627/640.
E08077Six relic labels at the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (south-east Gaul), datable by their script to the 2nd half of the 7th c., for relics of various saints. Written in Latin, either where the relics originated, or at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.
E08078Six relic labels at the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (south-east Gaul), datable by their script to the 7th/8th c., for relics of Gallic saints. Written in Latin, either where the relics originated, or at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.
E08079Three relic labels, datable by their script to the 7th/8th c., for relics, at the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (Agaunum, south-east Gaul), of various saints. Written in Latin, either where the relics originated, or at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.
E08222The Gothic Missal compiles liturgical texts for the celebration of saints' feasts throughout the year. Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710. Overview entry.
E08248The Gothic Missal includes prayers for the celebration of mass on the feast day of *Maurice and the Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaunum, S00339). Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710.
E08266The Latin Martyrdom of *Sigismund (king and martyr of the Burgundians, ob. 523, S00380) and His Companions records the king's pious reign; his patronage of the cult of *Maurice and the Theban Legion (martyrs of Agaune (south-east Gaul), S00339); his martyrdom, together with his family; and translation to Agaune. Written in Gaul, probably at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune, c. 660/750.
E0831535 relic labels at Sens (northern Gaul), datable by their script to the 7th or 8th c., for relics of a great diversity of saints. Written in Latin, perhaps at Sens, or at an earlier stage in their transmission.
E08397The will of Somnatius, bishop of Reims (c. 613 - after 626), leaves property and money to many churches at Reims and elsewhere in northern Gaul. Will of c. 620; summary, written in Latin in the 940s by Flodoard, in his History of the Church of Reims (2.5).
E08398The will of Lando, bishop of Reims (mid-7th c.), leaves property to many churches of Reims. Will of mid-7th c.; summary, written in Latin in the 940s by Flodoard, in his History of the Church of Reims (2.6).
E08410The Formulary of Marculf includes templates for documents granting episcopal and royal privileges to monasteries and churches dedicated to saints. One notes among its precedents the special privileges already enjoyed by the 'monasteries of the saints of Lèrins (southern Gaul), Luxeuil (eastern Gaul) and Agaune' (i.e. the *Theban Legion, martyrs of (Saint-Maurice-d')Agaune (south-east Gaul), S00339). Written in Latin in Gaul, probably c. 650/730.