Ruricius
Encyclopedia
Ruricius I a Gallo-Roman aristocrat and bishop of Limoges from ca.485 to 510. He is one of the writers whose letters survive from late Roman Gaul
depicting the influence of the Visigoths on the Roman lifestyle. He should not be confused with his son-in-law, Saint Rusticus (Archbishop of Lyon).
, urban prefect of Rome in 468 and bishop of Clermont
(died 485), Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus
, Bishop of Vienne (died 518); and Magnus Felix Ennodius
of Arles, Bishop of Ticinum
(died 534). All of them were linked in a tightly-bound, Gallo-Roman aristocratic network that provided the bishops of Catholic Gaul .
Although there is scarce information about Ruricius' life, it is known that he eventually became a grandfather, suggesting he must have lived to be at least 65 or 70. He may have died as early as 506 to as late as 510, so this puts his birth date around 440 . Likewise, there is no information concerning his birthplace, though he appears to have had strong ties to Aquitaine in the region of Cahors, and there is significant information regarding his family.
He was a member of the Anician family, one of the most important aristocratic families in Rome
. Ruricius’ ancestry has been a subject of debate ; Mathisen's explanation is that Ruricius was the son of a "Constantius" and a "Leontia" based on Mathisen's premise that his paternal grandfather may have been Flavius Constantius Felix
and his mother a member of the aristocratic familia Pontii Leontii of Burdigalia in Aquitania. Mathisen arguments are based (1) for Constantius, on the existence of an ivory consular diptych for Fl. Constantius Felix (cos 428), patrician and magister militum 425-430 at Limoges and the fact that Ruricius had a son of that name and (2) for Leontia , the use of the name Leontius for Ruricius brother and son.
Settipani agrees that Ruricius' mother was a member of the Pontii Leontii but does not make any specific reference as to who Ruricius' father might be. He argues that the name of the consul of 428 was in fact Flavius Felix and that the name "Constantius" was added in error which would make this person one of the Ennodii and that the Ennodii did not become related to Ruricius until the next generation through marriage to one of his sons by an Ennodian mother of Parthenius.
Mommaerts and Kelley propose that Ruricius may be the son of an African proconsul, name as yet unknown, but otherwise identified (by title) by Sidonius in his letter to Montius as the father of said Camillus. This would make Ruricius brother to Camillus and Firminus of Arles. The objection to this hypothesis has been that it makes the unnamed African proconsul an otherwise unattested son of regicide emperor Petronius Maximus and that there are not any Firminid names among Ruricius immediate descendants. Settipani now accepts Petronius Maximus as an Anicius but argues the unnamed African proconsul was unlikely to have been Maximus' son. . In support of the Kelley Mommaerts hypothesis is the evidence in his letters of Ruricius' strong ties to Arles and an argument that the name "Firminus" in fact came into use among the Ferreoli through the marriage of Papianilla, whom they hypoethesize to have been a sister of Ruricius, to Tonantius Ferreolus; however, the matter of Ruricius' paternal heritage remains controversial.
Perhaps the oddest thing is Sidonius' failure to enthuse, rather uncharacteristically, about Ruricius' father, whoever he was. Sidonius could enthuse about the most questionable of lineages. Perhaps since Ruricius was apparently at one point Sidonius' protege, Sidonius may have felt it somehow inappropriate. The Aniciian references are grounded in Venantius Fortunatus' epitaph of the two Ruriciid bishops of Limoges commissioned by their kinsman and successor Ferreolus . Some suggest that nevertheless Ruricius may not have been an Anicius because he makes no reference in his surviving letters that he is related, nor does he communicate with any known member of the family . On balance, the Fortunatan evidence is rather more persuasive. Ruricius married Hiberia, the daughter of an Arverni
an senator Ommatius, a descendant of a Patrician who lived in the 4th century named Philagrius.. It is noted that she participated in his conversion to religious life, and thus succession to the episcopal see of Limoges in about 485 .
Though no direct evidence survives to say whether they had any daughters or not, it is known that Ruricius and Hiberia had five sons named: Ommatius (eldest), Eparchius, Constantius, Leontius, and Aurelianus. Also, Ruricius had several grand-children, and at least one great-grandchild .
During the late empire and after the Visigothic takeover of imperial Gaul, it was common for Gallo-Roman aristocrats to take refuge in church office, allowing not only retention of local influence, but also some personal security. Incidentally, Ruricius was appointed bishop of Limoges after the death of king Euric
on December 28, 484. Euric was succeeded by his son, Alaric II
. He reigned throughout Ruricius’ time as bishop, apparently making good use of, among other things, Ruricius' legal acumen, until Ruricius passed from the scene as stated before between late 506 and 510. Apart from his letters, Ruricius' only other known physical legacy is the monastery and church of Saint Augustine, which he built ca. 485 .
, near Poitiers
in 507; a fundamental battle in Gallic history, since it is where the Franks
defeated the Visigoths .
, Avitus of Vienne
, and Ennodius of Pavia
, Ruricius is extremely silent on contemporary historical events. For instance, Ruricius makes no mention in his letters of developments such as the Frankish incursions into the Visigothic kingdom, but it can be assumed that they were of great concern . Ruricius’ correspondence is therefore more representative of typical late Roman aristocratic written transactions. As such, he provides a different, and valuable, perspective to the evidence of more politically active letter writers such as Augustine, Sidonius, Avitus, Ennodius and Cassiodorus. His letters distinguish themselves from those written by Sidonius, for example, many of whose letters were composed when Gaul was still a part of the Roman Empire . Mathisen notes that the neglect of Ruricius in translation is unfortunate, because he provides a picture of life in late Roman Gaul that significantly compliments that given by Sidonius. Ruricius is a valid representative of the “Gallic rhetorical style” .
. He has many famous contemporary epistolographers, whose letters compliment those his own, and vice versa. Epistolography was the most important means of preserving one’s aristocratic ties during the period of literary decline in late Roman Gaul, as the imperial literary traditions were removed.
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
depicting the influence of the Visigoths on the Roman lifestyle. He should not be confused with his son-in-law, Saint Rusticus (Archbishop of Lyon).
Life
Little is known about the life of Ruricius, and some of what information is available is not certain. He is one of four, fifth- to sixth-century Gallo-Roman aristocrats whose letters survive in quantity: the others include Sidonius ApollinarisSidonius Apollinaris
Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...
, urban prefect of Rome in 468 and bishop of Clermont
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
(died 485), Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus
Avitus of Vienne
Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus was a Latin poet and archbishop of Vienne in Gaul.Avitus was born of a prominent Gallo-Roman senatorial family in the kinship of Emperor Avitus.-Life:...
, Bishop of Vienne (died 518); and Magnus Felix Ennodius
Magnus Felix Ennodius
Magnus Felix Ennodius was Bishop of Pavia in 514, and a Latin rhetorician and poet.He was one of four fifth to sixth-century Gallo-Roman aristocrats whose letters survive in quantity: the others are Sidonius Apollinaris, prefect of Rome in 468 and bishop of Clermont , Ruricius bishop of Limoges ...
of Arles, Bishop of Ticinum
Ticinum
Ticinum was an ancient city of Gallia Transpadana, founded on the banks of the river of the same name a little way above its confluence with the Padus ....
(died 534). All of them were linked in a tightly-bound, Gallo-Roman aristocratic network that provided the bishops of Catholic Gaul .
Although there is scarce information about Ruricius' life, it is known that he eventually became a grandfather, suggesting he must have lived to be at least 65 or 70. He may have died as early as 506 to as late as 510, so this puts his birth date around 440 . Likewise, there is no information concerning his birthplace, though he appears to have had strong ties to Aquitaine in the region of Cahors, and there is significant information regarding his family.
He was a member of the Anician family, one of the most important aristocratic families in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Ruricius’ ancestry has been a subject of debate ; Mathisen's explanation is that Ruricius was the son of a "Constantius" and a "Leontia" based on Mathisen's premise that his paternal grandfather may have been Flavius Constantius Felix
Flavius Felix
Flavius Felix was a politician of the Western Roman Empire, who reached the prominent rank of patrician before being killed by order of Flavius Aetius. For his consulate, in 428, he issued some consular diptychs, one of which has been preserved until modern times.Felix served during the reign of...
and his mother a member of the aristocratic familia Pontii Leontii of Burdigalia in Aquitania. Mathisen arguments are based (1) for Constantius, on the existence of an ivory consular diptych for Fl. Constantius Felix (cos 428), patrician and magister militum 425-430 at Limoges and the fact that Ruricius had a son of that name and (2) for Leontia , the use of the name Leontius for Ruricius brother and son.
Settipani agrees that Ruricius' mother was a member of the Pontii Leontii but does not make any specific reference as to who Ruricius' father might be. He argues that the name of the consul of 428 was in fact Flavius Felix and that the name "Constantius" was added in error which would make this person one of the Ennodii and that the Ennodii did not become related to Ruricius until the next generation through marriage to one of his sons by an Ennodian mother of Parthenius.
Mommaerts and Kelley propose that Ruricius may be the son of an African proconsul, name as yet unknown, but otherwise identified (by title) by Sidonius in his letter to Montius as the father of said Camillus. This would make Ruricius brother to Camillus and Firminus of Arles. The objection to this hypothesis has been that it makes the unnamed African proconsul an otherwise unattested son of regicide emperor Petronius Maximus and that there are not any Firminid names among Ruricius immediate descendants. Settipani now accepts Petronius Maximus as an Anicius but argues the unnamed African proconsul was unlikely to have been Maximus' son. . In support of the Kelley Mommaerts hypothesis is the evidence in his letters of Ruricius' strong ties to Arles and an argument that the name "Firminus" in fact came into use among the Ferreoli through the marriage of Papianilla, whom they hypoethesize to have been a sister of Ruricius, to Tonantius Ferreolus; however, the matter of Ruricius' paternal heritage remains controversial.
Perhaps the oddest thing is Sidonius' failure to enthuse, rather uncharacteristically, about Ruricius' father, whoever he was. Sidonius could enthuse about the most questionable of lineages. Perhaps since Ruricius was apparently at one point Sidonius' protege, Sidonius may have felt it somehow inappropriate. The Aniciian references are grounded in Venantius Fortunatus' epitaph of the two Ruriciid bishops of Limoges commissioned by their kinsman and successor Ferreolus . Some suggest that nevertheless Ruricius may not have been an Anicius because he makes no reference in his surviving letters that he is related, nor does he communicate with any known member of the family . On balance, the Fortunatan evidence is rather more persuasive. Ruricius married Hiberia, the daughter of an Arverni
Arverni
The Arverni were a Gallic tribe living in what is now the Auvergne region of France during the last centuries BC. One of the most powerful tribes in ancient Gaul, they opposed the Romans on several occasions...
an senator Ommatius, a descendant of a Patrician who lived in the 4th century named Philagrius.. It is noted that she participated in his conversion to religious life, and thus succession to the episcopal see of Limoges in about 485 .
Though no direct evidence survives to say whether they had any daughters or not, it is known that Ruricius and Hiberia had five sons named: Ommatius (eldest), Eparchius, Constantius, Leontius, and Aurelianus. Also, Ruricius had several grand-children, and at least one great-grandchild .
During the late empire and after the Visigothic takeover of imperial Gaul, it was common for Gallo-Roman aristocrats to take refuge in church office, allowing not only retention of local influence, but also some personal security. Incidentally, Ruricius was appointed bishop of Limoges after the death of king Euric
Euric
Euric, also known as Evaric, Erwig, or Eurico in Spanish and Portuguese , Son of Theodoric I and the younger brother of Theodoric II and ruled as king of the Visigoths, with his capital at Toulouse, from 466 until his death in 484.He inherited a large portion of the Visigothic possessions in the...
on December 28, 484. Euric was succeeded by his son, Alaric II
Alaric II
Alaric II, also known as Alarik, Alarich, and Alarico in Spanish and Portuguese or Alaricus in Latin succeeded his father Euric on December 28, 484, in Toulouse. He established his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour in Aquitaine...
. He reigned throughout Ruricius’ time as bishop, apparently making good use of, among other things, Ruricius' legal acumen, until Ruricius passed from the scene as stated before between late 506 and 510. Apart from his letters, Ruricius' only other known physical legacy is the monastery and church of Saint Augustine, which he built ca. 485 .
Writings
Ruricius’ collection of 83 letters, of which 12 are addressed to him, survive in a single manuscript called Codex Sangallensis 190. They cover a period of about 30 years, and describe what happened in Gaul after the final Roman withdrawal just before 480. The letters give insight into what the life of the literate Roman population was like under barbarian rule; what changed, and what remained. For example, they make almost no note of the effect of the Visigoths on local life and activities, posing the question as to whether the locals were very much affected. Most of Ruricius’ correspondence was directed to nearby bishops, and people in his family. Although he does have some renowned correspondents, for the most part, they are not well known. Finally, the letters of Ruricius shed light on the underlying circumstances surrounding the Battle of VouilléBattle of Vouillé
The Battle of Vouillé or Vouglé was fought in the northern marches of Visigothic territory, at Vouillé, Vienne near Poitiers , in the spring of 507 between the Franks commanded by Clovis and the Visigoths of Alaric II, the conqueror of Spain.Clovis and Anastasius I of the Byzantine Empire agreed...
, near Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
in 507; a fundamental battle in Gallic history, since it is where the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
defeated the Visigoths .
Controversy surrounding relevance
Ralph W. Mathisen, the translator of the most recent set of Ruricius’ letters, writes that they are of great significance to our understanding of the survival of classical literature and the development of Western European religion and society. However, some historians criticize the letters because of their historical irrelevance. D.R. Bradley notes that the letters give insufficient information for either the ecclesiastical historian or the theologian because they neglect major contemporary events. His main argument is that Ruricius had the habit of sending verbal messages by the bearer of his letters; therefore his letters give no insight into the events of Visigothic Gaul.Relation to contemporaries
Similar to historiographical controversy, it is argued that in comparison to other letter writers such as Sidonius ApollinarisSidonius Apollinaris
Gaius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius or Saint Sidonius Apollinaris was a poet, diplomat, and bishop. Sidonius is "the single most important surviving author from fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg...
, Avitus of Vienne
Avitus of Vienne
Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus was a Latin poet and archbishop of Vienne in Gaul.Avitus was born of a prominent Gallo-Roman senatorial family in the kinship of Emperor Avitus.-Life:...
, and Ennodius of Pavia
Magnus Felix Ennodius
Magnus Felix Ennodius was Bishop of Pavia in 514, and a Latin rhetorician and poet.He was one of four fifth to sixth-century Gallo-Roman aristocrats whose letters survive in quantity: the others are Sidonius Apollinaris, prefect of Rome in 468 and bishop of Clermont , Ruricius bishop of Limoges ...
, Ruricius is extremely silent on contemporary historical events. For instance, Ruricius makes no mention in his letters of developments such as the Frankish incursions into the Visigothic kingdom, but it can be assumed that they were of great concern . Ruricius’ correspondence is therefore more representative of typical late Roman aristocratic written transactions. As such, he provides a different, and valuable, perspective to the evidence of more politically active letter writers such as Augustine, Sidonius, Avitus, Ennodius and Cassiodorus. His letters distinguish themselves from those written by Sidonius, for example, many of whose letters were composed when Gaul was still a part of the Roman Empire . Mathisen notes that the neglect of Ruricius in translation is unfortunate, because he provides a picture of life in late Roman Gaul that significantly compliments that given by Sidonius. Ruricius is a valid representative of the “Gallic rhetorical style” .
Epistolography
Ruricius’ letters demonstrate the importance of letter writing, also known as epistolographyEpistolography
Epistolography is the art or practice of writing letters, with particular regard to their timeframe and cultural environment. Generally, the letters were written for a public audience, however, private letters could be useful for a better knowing of the author and his works.- Context :According...
. He has many famous contemporary epistolographers, whose letters compliment those his own, and vice versa. Epistolography was the most important means of preserving one’s aristocratic ties during the period of literary decline in late Roman Gaul, as the imperial literary traditions were removed.
Sources
- Bradley, D. R. "Review: The Letters of Ruricius." The Classical Review, New Series 4, no. 3/4 (1954): 268-269.
- Gilliard, Frank. "The Senators of Sixth-Century Gaul." Speculum, 54 (1979): 685-697.
- Mathisen, R. W. Ruricius of Limoges and Friends: A Collection of Letters from Visigothic Gaul. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1999.
- Mathisen, R. W. "Barbarian Bishops and the Churches "in Barbaricis Gentibus" during Late Antiquity." Speculum, 72 (1997): 664-697.
- Mathisen, R. W. Roman Aristocrats in Barbarian Gaul: Strategies for Survival in an Age of Transition. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1993.
- Mathisen, R. W. Studies in the History, Literature, and Society of Late Antiquity. Amsterdam: Hakert, 1991.
- Mathisen, R. W. Ecclesiastical Factionalism and Religious Controversy in Fifth Century Gaul. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1989.
- Mathisen, R. W. "The Theme of Literary Decline in Late Roman Gaul." Classical Philology, 83 (1988): 45-52.
- Mathisen, R. W. "Emigrants, Exiles and Survivors: Aristocratic Options in Visigothic Aquitania." Phoenix, 38 (1984): 159-170.
- Mathisen, R. W. "Epistolography, Literary Circles and Family Ties in Late Roman Gaul." Transactions of the American Philogical Association, 111 (1981): 95-109.
- Mathisen, R. W. and Danuta Shanzer. Society and Culture in Late Antique Gaul: Revisiting the Sources. Michigan: Ashgate, 2001.
- Mommaerts, T. Stanford, and Kelley, David H. "The Anicii of Gaul and Rome," in Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity? Edited by John Drinkwater and Hugh Elton. Cambridge, 1992.
- Neri, Marino (ed.), Ruricio di Limoges: Lettere (Pisa: Edizioni ETS, 2009) (Pubblicazioni della Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofía dell' Università di Pavia, 122).
- Settipani, Christian. "Ruricius, premier évêque de Limoges et ses alliances familiales." Francia, 18 (1991).
- Settipani, Christian. Continuite Gentilice et Continuite Familiae Das Les Familles Senatoriales Romaines a L'Epoque Imperialle: Mythe et Realite. Oxford: Unit for Prosopographical Research, Linacre College, University of Oxford, 2000.
- Settipani, Christian. ADDENDUM et CORRIGIENDA (juillet 2000-octobre 2002) for Continuite Gentilice et Continuite Familiae Das Les Familles Senatoriales Romaines a L'Epoque Imperialle: Mythe et Realite. http://users.ox.ac.uk/~prosop/publications/volume-two.pdf (2002)
External links
Further reading
- Hagendahl, Harald. "Acta Universitatis Gotenburgensis 58.3 (Göteborg) 1952.
- Krusch, B. Ruricii Epistolae in Mon. Ger. Hist. AA8 (Berlin) 1887; A. Englebrecht, ed. Ruricii Epistolarum Libri Duo (Vienna) 1891. There are no modern editions.