Through a reading of the Passio Praeiecti episcopi et martyris Arverni it is shown how the frequent reference to Praejectus’s thaumaturgic potentia was functional for the purpose of his anonymous hagiographer (whose possible identity is discussed in the paper), namely to construct the image of a saint who, post mortem, could be welcomed not only by his faithful but also by his political opponents. In fact, the paper focuses on aspects neglected by the historiography dedicated to the bishop of Clermont in order to identify, through comparison with other Vitae, the foundations of his auctoritas, as in the case of his ability to perform numerous miracula. Praejectus’s power did not derive from belonging to a noble family, as was the case with many bishops, and this is certainly an important element in a historical period, seventh-century Merovingian Gaul, in which the hagiographic tendency is to favour the concrete pastoral action of the episcopi chosen by the Merovingian kings, rather than their spiritual virtues.
Attraverso una rilettura della Passio Praeiecti episcopi et martyris Arverni si evidenzia come il frequente rimando alla potentia taumaturgica di Preietto fosse funzionale allo scopo del suo anonimo agiografo (la cui possibile identità viene discussa nel paper), ossia quello di costruire l’immagine di un santo che, post mortem, potesse essere accolta non solo dai suoi fedeli ma anche dai suoi avversari politici. L’articolo infatti focalizza aspetti più trascurati dalla storiografia dedicata al vescovo di Clermont per individuare, attraverso il confronto con altre Vitae, le fondamenta della sua auctoritas, come nel caso della sua capacità di compiere numerosi miracula. Il potere di Preietto non derivava, come avveniva per molti vescovi, dall’appartenenza ad una nobile famiglia, ed è questo un elemento certo significativo in un frangente storico, la Gallia merovingia del VII secolo, in cui la tendenza agiografica è quella di prediligere l’azione pastorale concreta degli episcopi selezionati dai sovrani merovingi piuttosto che le loro virtù spirituali.
Famulus Dei: some reflections on the Passio of Praejectus of Clermont
Emanuele Piazza
2023-01-01
Abstract
Through a reading of the Passio Praeiecti episcopi et martyris Arverni it is shown how the frequent reference to Praejectus’s thaumaturgic potentia was functional for the purpose of his anonymous hagiographer (whose possible identity is discussed in the paper), namely to construct the image of a saint who, post mortem, could be welcomed not only by his faithful but also by his political opponents. In fact, the paper focuses on aspects neglected by the historiography dedicated to the bishop of Clermont in order to identify, through comparison with other Vitae, the foundations of his auctoritas, as in the case of his ability to perform numerous miracula. Praejectus’s power did not derive from belonging to a noble family, as was the case with many bishops, and this is certainly an important element in a historical period, seventh-century Merovingian Gaul, in which the hagiographic tendency is to favour the concrete pastoral action of the episcopi chosen by the Merovingian kings, rather than their spiritual virtues.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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