Ancient Diocese of Saintes

Cathedral of Saint-Pierre de Saintes

The former French diocese of Saintes existed from the sixth century, to the French Revolution. Its see was at Saintes in western France, in the modern department of Charente-Maritime. After the Concordat of 1801, its territory passed mainly to the diocese of La Rochelle.

History

Saintes has numerous Roman monuments. The oldest bishop of known date is Peter, who took part in the Council of Orléans (511).

The first bishop, however, is St. Eutropius. Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem written in the second half of the sixth century, makes explicit mention of him in connection with Saintes. Eutropius was said to be a Persian of royal descent, ordained and sent to Gaul by St. Clement; at Saintes he converted to Christianity the governor's daughter, St. Eustelle, and like her suffered martyrdom. This tradition is noted by Gregory of Tours, with a cautious ut fertur; Saintes is thus the only church of Gaul which Gregory traces back to the first century. This evidence is much weakened, says Louis Duchesne, by Gregory's remark to the effect that no one knew the history of St. Eutropius before the removal of his relics by Bishop Palladius, which took place about 590. At this tardy date seems to have arisen the account of Eutropius as a martyr.

Among the bishops of Saintes are mentioned:

Councils

Several councils were held at Saintes: in 562 or 563, when Bishop Emerius, illegally elected, was deposed and Heraclius appointed in his stead; other councils were held in 579, 1074 or 1075, 1080, 1081, at which last, metropolitan authority over the sees of Lower Brittany was granted to Tours as against the claims of Dol, and William VII gave the church of St. Eutropius to the monks of Cluny; also in 1083, 1088, 1089, 1097.

Bishops

Notes

  1. ↑ Catholic Encyclopedia: La Rochelle
  2. ↑ Known only from late medieval sources. Favreau, 82.
  3. ↑ Known only from late medieval sources. Favreau, 82.
  4. ↑ Known only from late medieval sources. Favreau, 82.
  5. ↑ Favreau, 82.
  6. ↑ Favreau, 82–83.
  7. ↑ Favreau, 83.
  8. ↑ Favreau, 83–84.
  9. ↑ Favreau, 84.
  10. ↑ Favreau, 84–85.
  11. ↑ Favreau, 85.
  12. ↑ Favreau, 85–86.
  13. ↑ Favreau, 86–87.
  14. ↑ Favreau, 87.
  15. ↑ Favreau, 87.
  16. ↑ Favreau, 87.
  17. ↑ Favreau, 88.
  18. ↑ Favreau, 88.
  19. ↑ Favreau, 88.
  20. ↑ Favreau, 88–89.
  21. ↑ Favreau, 89.
  22. ↑ Favreau, 89–90.
  23. ↑ Favreau, 90.
  24. ↑ Favreau, 90.
  25. ↑ Favreau, 90–91. Favreau notes that certain episcopal lists place sevearl bishops between Frecultus and Abbon: Maynardus, Alo, Grimoardus, Justus, or Machan, Mainard, Alo, Grimoardus, Abbon I, Gilbert, Ardoin, Benedicti II, and Emond. These are unverifiable or found on spurious documents.
  26. ↑ Favreau, 91.
  27. ↑ Favreau, 92–93.
  28. ↑ Favreau, 93.
  29. ↑ Favreau, 94.
  30. ↑ Favreau, 94.
  31. ↑ Favreau, 94.
  32. ↑ Pope Alexander II deposed Arnulfus for simony. Bishop William of Angoulême then briefly administered the diocese of Saintes. Favreau, 94–95.
  33. ↑ Favreau, 96.
  34. ↑ Favreau, 97.
  35. ↑ Favreau, 98–99.
  36. ↑ Favreau, 100–1.
  37. ↑ Favreau, 101–2.
  38. ↑ Favreau, 102–3.
  39. ↑ Favreau, 103–4.
  40. ↑ Favreau, 105–106.
  41. ↑ Favreau, 106–108.
  42. ↑ Favreau, 108.
  43. ↑ Favreau, 108–110.

Sources

  • Favreau, Robert. "Évêques d’Angoulême et Saintes avant 1200." Revue historique du Centre-Ouest 9, no. 1 (2010): 7–142.