Conversing With The Saints: Communication In Pre-carolingian Hagiography From Auxerre (utrecht Studies In Medieval Literacy)

Early medieval hagiographical texts abound with vivid descriptions of acts of communication. Such descriptions in the hagiography written in the diocese of Auxerre during the Merovingian period are studied here in an attempt to establish the status of the written word 'vis-a-vis' other means of communication, such as the spoken word or rituals. For this purpose the dating of each source is reconsidered. The texts were written within the clerical community of Auxerre and most relate in some way to Germanus, the most renowned bishop of Auxerre (first half of the fifth century). Although the 'Vita Germani' by Constantius was not written in Auxerre nor for an Auxerrois audience, it is included in the analysis, since it has exerted a profound influence on the later hagiographical narratives produced in the diocese. This study demonstrates that the authors of these texts were very much aware of the limitations of the written word as well as of the advantages and importance of non-written communication. Preface vii Abbreviations ix Map of Auxerre in the early Middle Ages x Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Hagiography and historiography: a problem of genre 6 The Carolingian authors 11 Alagus and Rainogala 12 Heiric 13 Relationships between the Carolingian texts 22 Chapter 2. Constantius' 'Vita Germani': An Author and His Text 25 The author 26 Distribution of the 'Vita Germani' 29 Purposes of the 'Vita Germani' 33 Historiography 35 Conclusion 36 Chapter 3. Communication in the 'Vita Germani' 37 Written communication 38 Oral communication 44 Non-verbal communication 53 Conclusion 63 Chapter 4. The Merovingian Sources 65 The historical background 65 The 'Martyrologium Hieronymianum' 71 The 'Vita sancti Amatoris episcopi Autissiodorensis' 74 The 'Vita sancti Peregrini episcopi Autissiodorensis' 81 The 'Passio sancti Prisci et sociorum eius' 85 The 'Passio sancti Albani' 90 The 'Revelatio Corcodemi seu conversio Mamertini' 97 The 'Vita sancti Germani interpolata' 107 The 'Vita sancti Aunarii episcopi Autissiodorensis' 128 The 'Vita sancti Mariani monachi' 131 A lost 'Vita sancti Marsi'? 134 Conclusion 136 Chapter 5. Communication in the Merovingian Texts 137 Education, literacy and Holy Scripture 138 Exorcisms and other communication with the supernatural 145 Gesture and ritual 157 Early medieval liturgy and its sources 162 The marriage of Amator and Martha 169 Baptism 182 Conclusion 193 Chapter 6. Preliminary conclusions 195 Bibliography 203 Printed sources 203 Contents include: 'Constantius' Vita Germani: an Author and His Text', 'Communication in the Vita Germani', 'The Merovingian Sources', and 'Communication in the Merovingian Texts'