Germanus of Auxerre (c.378–31 July 448) became bishop of Auxerre in Gaul. Prior to this he had also practised law and held a post of provincial governor. He visited Britain in 429 in response to the growth of Pelagianism there and the records of his visit provide valuable information on the state of post-Roman British society. He is a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, commemorated on July 31. Events Mid-February: Lentienses cross frozen Rhine, invading Roman Empire. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... Events Eutyches is accused of heresy at a council held in Constantinople. ... Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne région of France, between Paris and Dijon. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (Latin Gallia, Greek Galatia) is the region of Western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Events Vandals under Geiseric cross from Spain into Roman Africa Pope Celestine I dispatches bishops Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes to Britain to combat Pelagian heresy. ... Pelagianism is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature (which, being created from God, was divine), and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without Divine aid. ... In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ...

A British bishop's son named Agricola was leading the native Christians away from orthodox Christianity towards the Pelagian heresy. A Gaulish assembly of bishops chose Germanus and Lupus, Bishop of Troyes to visit the island to combat the threat and satisfy the Pope that the British church would not break away from the Augustinian teachings of divine grace. Troyes is a town in northeastern France. ... St. ... Divine grace is believed by Christians to be the sovereign favor of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them. ...

The principal source for the events of his life is the hagiography written by Constantius of Lyons around 480. Constantius was a friend of bishop Lupus, which provided him with a link to Germanus. Hagiography is the study of saints. ... Constantius of Lyons (fl. ... Events Odoacer defeats an attempt by Julius Nepos to recapture Italy, and has Julius killed; Odoacer also captured Dalmatia. ...

Visit to Britain

Germanus and Lupus confronted the Pelagians at a public meeting before a huge crowd in Britain. The Pelagians were described as being 'conspicuous for riches, brilliant in dress and surrounded by a fawning multitude' indicating that the post-Roman ruling classes had not been entirely wiped out and still had wealth and influence. Alternatively, this may be embellishment by Constantius who wished to magnify the achievements of his subject. The bishops debated and despite having no popular support, Germanus was able to defeat the Pelagians using his superior rhetoric.

Following the meeting, Germanus and Lupus visited the shrine of Saint Alban, suggesting that the site of the debate was at Verulamium, or perhaps London. Constantius also recounts the miraculous healing of the son of 'a man with tribunician power'.This use of the word tribune may imply the exitence of some form of post-Roman government system. However, in Cosntantius' lifetime tribune had acquired a more loose definition, and often was used to indicate any military officer, whether part of the Imperial army or part of a town militia. see St Albans (disambiguation) for place names Shrine of Saint Alban in St Albans Cathedral Saint Alban was the first Christian martyr in Britain. ... Remains of the city walls Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. ... Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Greek form tribounos) was a title shared by several elected magistracies and other governmental and/or (para)military offices of the Roman Republic and Empire. ...

Germanus led the native Britons to an Alleluia victory against a Pictish and Saxon army, at a mountainous site near a river. Mold in North Wales is the traditional location. After baptising his troops (notably, they were not Christians) he ordered them all to cry 'Alleluia!' The sound apparently so terrified the invaders that they fled before battle could be brought. That Germanus took command may mean that the ruling Pelagian classes had been discredited after losing the debate at Verulamium or even that they themselves had enlisted the Saxons and Picts. The contemporary British warlord Vortigern certainly made use of Saxon mercenaries and the political aspects of Pelagianism have been much discussed. It has been suggested by Peter Salway that the battle was fought to ensure that Britain remained sympathetic to Aëtius and support his bid for control of the western Roman empire. The Picts were a confederation of tribes in central and northern Scotland from the 3rd century to the 11th century. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Mold (Yr Wyddgrug in Welsh) is the county town of Flintshire in Wales and lies on the River Alyn. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Vortigern, Vortiger, or Vortigen was a fifth century warlord, possibly legendary, traditionally said to have invited the Anglo-Saxons to settle in Britain as mercenaries, who later revolted and established their own kingdoms. ... Flavius Aëtius or simply Aëtius, (circa 396–454), was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. ...

Later life

Germanus made a second visit to Britain in the 440s, joined by Severus, Bishop of Trier and meeting Elafius, described by Bede as 'a chief of that region'. Germanus cured Elafius' enfeebled son and this miracle served to persuade the population again that Gaulish Catholicism rather than Pelagianism was the true faith. Elafius was a British figure of the 5th century AD. During a visit to Britain by Germanus of Auxerre in c. ... Bede depicted in an early medieval manuscript Depiction of Bede from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493. ...

He died in Ravenna while petitioning the Roman government for leniency for the citizens of Armorica, against whom Aëtius had dispatched the Alans on a punitive expedition. Scholars have argued, based on the scanty evidence, that his death should be dated to 445, 446, 447 or 448. Ravenna is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... Armorica or Aremorica is the name given in ancient times to the part of Gaul that includes the Brittany peninsula and the territory between the Seine and Loire rivers, extending inland to an indeterminate point and down the Atlantic coast. ... The Alans, Alani, Alauni or Halani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of mixed backgrounds, who spoke an Iranian language and shared, in a broad sense, a common culture. ... Events Attila murders his brother and co-king Bleda. ... Events A synod is held by Turibius of Astorga. ... Events Synod of Toledo: The filioque clause is added to the Nicene Creed Merovech becomes king of the Franks Battle of the Utus: Attila the Hun meets the Eastern Romans in an indecisive battle. ... Events Eutyches is accused of heresy at a council held in Constantinople. ...

Welsh tradition records a number of details and church dedications to a Saint Germanus who may not be the same individual. For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ...

Germanus figures in the 2004 movie King Arthur, although his second and final mission to Britain took place twenty years before the year the movie is set in. His visit to Britain is the subject of a Welsh radio play by Saunders Lewis entitled Buchedd Garmon. King Arthur is a film first released in the United States on June 28, 2004, dubbed as The Untold True Story That Inspired The Legend by Touchstone Pictures. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... Saunders Lewis (John Saunders Lewis), (1893-1895), was a Welsh poet, dramatist, historian, literary critic and political activist. ...

References

• F.R. Hoare, The Western Fathers (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1965). A translation of the "Life of St. Germanus" appears on pp. 283-320.
• Catholic Encyclopedia article