Ruricius of Limoges and friends : a collection of letters from Visigothic Gaul : letters of Ruricius of Limoges, Caesarius of Arles, Euphrasius of Clermont, Faustus of Riez, Graecus of Marseille, Paulinus of Bordeaux, Sedatus of Nîmes, Sidonius Apollinar

Letters of Ruricius of Limoges, Caesarius of Arles, Euphrasius of Clermont, Faustus of Riez, Graecus of Marseille, Paulinus of Bordeaux, Sedatus of Nîmes, Sidonius Apollinaris, Taurentius and Victorinus of Fréjus. Translated with introduction, commentary and notes by Ralph W. Mathisen. The letter collection of Ruricius, bishop of Limoges c. 485-510, describes the last quarter of the fifth century, when it had seemed that the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse, not the kingdom of the Franks, would become the primary barbarian power of Gaul. The letters illustrate how literary life continued under barbarian rule, and demonstrate how well-to-do Gauls responded to the changing times. They provide priceless insights not only into the private and public lives of individual letter writers, but also into life and activities in Visigothic Gaul at the local level in general. More than any other source, these letters tell the tale of the "end of Roman Gaul". In An Intimate And Domestic Way, These Letters Describe What Happened In Gaul After The Final Roman Withdrawal Just Before Ad 480. They Illustrate How Literary Life Continued Under Barbarian Rule, And Demonstrate How Well-to-do Gauls Responded To The Changing Times. They Provide Priceless Insights Not Only Into The Private And Public Lives Of Individual Letter Writers, But Also Into Live And Activities In Visigothic Gaul At The Local Level In General. In This Regard, They Suggest How Little Impact The Visigoths Actually Had. More Than Any Other Source, These Letters Tell The Tale Of The 'end Of Roman Gaul'.--book Jacket. Limoges And Aquitania: The First Through The Seventh Centuries -- Ruricius' Family, Friends, And Historical Context -- The Correspondence: Contents, Style, Organization -- The Manuscript Tradition -- The Translations -- Poems Of Sidonius Apollinaris Relating To Ruricius And His Family -- The Correspondence Of Ruricius Of Limoges: Book I -- The Correspondence Of Ruricius Of Limoges: Book Ii -- Appendix I. Other Letters By And To Faustus Of Riez -- Appendix Ii. Epitaph Of Ruricius And Ruricius Ii Proculus -- Appendix Iii. Hagiographical Sources Referring To Ruricius And Limoges. Translated With Introduction, Commentary And Notes By Ralph W. Mathisen. Letters Of Ruricius Of Limoges, Caesarius Of Arles, Euphrasius Of Clermont, Faustus Of Riez, Graecus Of Marseille, Paulinus Of Bordeaux, Sedatus Of Nîmes, Sidonius Apollinaris, Taurentius And Victorinus Of Fréjus. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [263]-274) And Index. The fifth century brought great changes to Roman Gaul, including the expansion of the Christian church, the disappearance of the Roman imperial presence, and the arrival and settlement of various barbarian peoples. In this volume, the letters of Ruricius, bishop of Limoges (c. 485-510), and those written to him -- by Faustus of Riez, Sedatus of Nimes. Caesarius of Aries, Euphrasius of Clermont, Graecus of Marseilles, Victorinus of Frejus, Sidonius Apollinaris, Paulinus of Bordeaux, and Taurentius -- give insight into the personal lives and feelings of those who experienced these transformations first hand.The collection affords an unparalleled view of Gaul in the last quarter of the fifth century, when it seemed that the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse would become the primary barbarian power in the region. In an intimate and domestic way, these personal correspondences describe what happened in Gaul after the final Roman withdrawal just before A.D. 480. They illustrate how literary culture continued under barbarian rule, and demonstrate how well-to-do Gauls responded to the changing times. They provide priceless insights not only into the private and public lives of the individual letter writers but also into life and activities in Visigothic Gaul at the local level in general. Surprisingly, they suggest how little impact the Visigoths actually had on many individuals present at the "end of Roman Gaul. Preface vi List of Maps and Figures vii Abbreviations viii Introduction 1 Limoges and Aquitania: The First through the Seventh Centuries 5 Ruricius' Family, Friends, and Historical Context 19 The Correspondence: Contents, Style, Organization 51 The Manuscript Tradition 63 Translation Notes 77 The Translations: Poems of Sidonius Apollinaris Relating to Ruricius and his Family 79 The Correspondence of Ruricius of Limoges: Book I 87 The Correspondence of Ruricius of Limoges: Book II 133 Appendix I: Other Letters By and To Faustus of Riez 237 Appendix II: Epitaph of Ruricius and Ruricius II Proculus 253 Appendix ID: Hagiographical Sources Referring to Ruricius and Limoges 255 Bibliography 263 Index 275 "In an intimate and domestic way, these letters describe what happened in Gaul after the final Roman withdrawal just before AD 480. They illustrate how literary life continued under barbarian rule, and demonstrate how well-to-do Gauls responded to the changing times. They provide priceless insights not only into the private and public lives of individual letter writers, but also into life and activities in Visigothic Gaul at the local level in general. In this regard, they suggest how little impact the Visigoths actually had. More than any other source, these letters tell the tale of the 'end of Roman Gaul'."--Jacket