E02136: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (5.14), tells of how, in 577, Merovech joined Guntram Boso in sanctuary at the church in Tours of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050); how King Chilperic sought to have him expelled; how both Merovech and Chilperic sought (by different means) answers from Martin about the future, while Guntram Boso consulted a soothsayer; and how, after leaving Tours, Merovech sought sanctuary in the church of *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. 448, S00455) in Auxerre (central Gaul). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 577/594.
Creators: name: Kwojtalik
name: Dlambert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2016
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 5.14<br><br>Merovech, the rebellious son of King Chilperic, seeks sanctuary in the church of Martin at Tours, joining there Guntram Boso who had already sought refuge there (see E02121). Chilperic threatens to devastate the region of Tours if Gregory refuses to expel these men from the church, while his queen, Fredegund, attempts to use Guntram Boso in order to trick Merovech out of sanctuary. <br><br>Merovech prays that Martin will help him to win power:<br><br>Et ingressus basilicam, dum vigilias ageret, res quas secum habebat ad sepulchrum beati Martini exhibuit, orans, ut sibi sanctus succurrerit atque ei concederit gratiam suam, ut regnum accepere possit. <br><br>'He came into the church during vigils, bringing with him everything that he possessed. He placed it all beside the tomb of Saint Martin and prayed that the Saint might succour him and grant him this favour that he might win the kingdom.'<br><br>When threats and tricks fail, Chilperic seeks to consult Martin as to whether he will achieve his aims:<br><br>Misit Chilpericus rex epistulam scriptam ad sepulchrum sancti Martini, quae habebat insertum, ut ei beatus Martinus rescriberet, utrum liceret extrahi Gunthchramnum de basilica eius an non. Sed Baudegyselus diaconus, qui hanc epistulam exhibuit, cartam puram cum eadem quam detulerat ad sanctum tumolum misit. Cumque per triduum expectasset et nihil rescripti reciperet, redivit ad Chilpericum <br><br>'King Chilperic wrote a letter and addressed it to the tomb of Saint Martin, asking that the saint should write back to him to say whether or not he could have Guntram forcibly ejected from the church. The deacon Baudegisl, who brought this letter, placed it on the saint's tomb, with a blank piece of paper (carta) beside it. He waited three days but received no answer, So he returned to Chilperic.'<br><br>Meanwhile Guntram Boso consults a soothsayer (phitonissa) and receives a glowing prophecy of how Merovech will become king the very same year, and how he, Guntram Boso, will flourish under him, eventually retiring from military life as a bishop. But Merovech, distrusting the soothsayer,<br><br>Tres libros super sancti sepulchrum posuit, id est psalterii, Regum, euangeliorum, et vigilans tota nocte, petiit, ut sibi beatus confessor quid eveniret ostenderet, et utrum possit regnum accepere an non, ut Domino indicante, cognuscerit. Post haec continuato triduo in ieiuniis, vigiliis atque orationibus, ad beatum tumolum iterum accedens, revolvit librum, qui erat Regum. <br><br>'... placed three books on the saint's tomb, the Psalter, the Book of Kings and the Gospels: then he spent the whole night in prayer, beseeching the holy confessor to show him what was going to happen, that he might know, through a sign from the Lord, whether or not he would be able to inherit the kingdom. He spent three days and nights in fasting, vigils and supplication: then he went up to the tomb and opened the first volume, which was the Book of Kings.'<br><br>The answers Merovech gets from the three books predict (correctly) his imminent downfall and death.<br><br>Eventually Merovech, accompanied by Guntram Boso, leaves Tours and heads to Auxerre. There he is captured, but escapes, seeking sanctuary in the church of Germanus in Auxerre, where he spends two months. Meanwhile an army sent by Chilperic devastates the region of Tours. <br><br>Exercitus autem Chilperici regis usque Toronus accedens, regionem illam in praedas mittit, succendit atque devastat nec rebus sancti Martini pepercit ...<br><br>'King Chilperic’s army now advanced as far as Tours. He sacked the whole neighbourhood, setting fire to it and ravaging it, and not sparing even the things which belonged to Saint Martin ...'<br><br>Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 207-213. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 267-272, modified. Summary: Katarzyna Wojtalik.