Lucius of Britain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Lucius was a legendary figure and mythical king of the Britons during the time of the Roman occupation of Britain as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of King Coilus and ruled in the manner of his father.

Most British legends tell of King Lucius becoming the first native Christian in Britain. Around 180, he supposedly sent a letter to Pope Eleuterus requesting that he send missionaries to Britain to Christianize the people. Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People claims great success throughout south-western Britain. Eleuterus sent out Fuganus and Duvianus as missionaries and they converted St. Lucius after which they began to establish a Christian order throughout Britain.

Throughout his reign, the missionaries converted old temples to churches and catherdrals. Also dioceses were established among the people. York became the centre for Albany and Deira, London became the centre for Loegria and Cornwall, and Caerleon was the centre for Cambria. The missionaries returned to Rome, then subsequently returned to Britain with more aides in order to establish a full order on the isle. Lucius assisted by giving lands to the church and helping convert the people.

It is likely that Saint Lucius became a missionary himself and may have travelled to Switzerland to preach to the Grissons. St. Lucius is said to have died in Gloucester in 156, although sources differ on that date. He left no heir, and thus a struggle began between the people of Britain and the power of Rome.

St. Lucius's feast day is on 3 December and he was canonized through the pre-congregational method.

Unfortunately, Lucius is a non-existent King of Britain invented through confusion. The Catalogus Felicianus mentions the famous letter from 'Lucio Britannio rege' to Pope Eleutherius. This letter was in reality from the historical Lucius Aelius Septimius Megas Abgarus IX, King of Britium in Edessa.

See also Interregnum of Severus.

Preceded by: Coilus

Mythical British Kings

Succeeded by: Interregnum of Severus