Sulpicius Severus

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Sulpicius Severus (* around 363 in Aquitaine , † between 420 and 425 in southern Gaul ) wrote the first biography of St. Martin of Tours .

Sulpicius Severus was an Aquitaine aristocrat who was intended for the civil service career. He was brought up in the classical way, he probably studied rhetoric with Ausonius . He married the daughter of a Bassula , but his wife's name is unknown. After the early death of his wife, he retired and entered a monastery . From his correspondence with his friend Paulinus von Nola one learns a lot about his life, his views and his activities as the founder of a monastery.

Sulpicius wrote a world history ( Chronicorum Libri duo or Historia sacra ), which begins with the creation of the world and extends to the year 400 , but omits the events that are described in the New Testament . His work is an important source of information on the debate about Arianism and Priscillianism , especially with regard to Gaul .

Sulpicius' life of St. Martin began during his lifetime (Martin died in 397). He was very well acquainted with Martin personally. The work became the most popular biography of this popular saint; that of Paulinus of Perigueux was written about a century later. The biography is also a valuable source for the beginning of monasticism in Europe. In the Martinsvita, three letters and three dialogues about the saint there are also interesting details about everyday history.

Translations

  • Aloys Bieringer: Selected writings of Sulpicius Severus . Kempten 1872 ( online ).
  • Pius Bihlmeyer: The writings of Sulpicius Severus on Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours . Library of the Church Fathers Vol. 20. Kempten and Munich 1914 ( online ).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Severus, Sulpicius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aquitaine aristocrat and historiographer, wrote the first biography of St. Martin of Tours
DATE OF BIRTH at 363
PLACE OF BIRTH Aquitaine
DATE OF DEATH between 420 and 425
Place of death South Gaul