Ruricius encyclopedia topics

Life

Little is known about the life of Ruricius, and that which is realized is not certain. He is one of four, fifth- to sixth-century Gallo-Roman aristocrats whose letters survive in quantity: the others include Sidonius Apollinaris, prefect of Rome in 468 and bishop of Clermont (died 485), Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus, Bishop of Vienne (died 518); and Magnus Felix Ennodius of Arles, Bishop of Ticinum (died 534). All of them were linked in the tightly-bound, aristocratic Gallo-Roman network that provided the bishops of Catholic Gaul . Although there is scarce information about Ruricius' life, it is known that he eventually became a grandfather, suggesting he must have lived to be at least 65 or 70. He died as late as 510, so this puts his birth date around 440 . Likewise, there is no indication of his birthplace, but there is significant information regarding his family. He was a member of the Anicii family, one of the most famous aristocratic families in Rome. Ruricius’ true ancestry has been debated ; the most common explanation is that he is the son of Constantius and Leontia. His paternal grandfather would be therefore Flavius Constantius Felix. Most cite that Ruricius may not be an Anicii because he makes no indication in his letters that he is related, nor does he communicate with anyone from the family . Ruricius married Hiberia, the daughter of the Arvernian senator Ommatius, a descendant of the Patrician family. This is interesting because it suggests that her family seems to be more prominent at the time than his. It is noted that she participated in his conversion to religious life, and thus succession to be bishop of Limoges in 485 . Though they had no daughters, they had five sons named: Ommatius (eldest), Eparchius, Constantius, Leontius, and Aurelianus. Also, Ruricius had several grand children, and at least one great grandchild . After the Visigothic takeover of imperial Gaul, it was common for Gallo-Roman aristocrats to take refuge in church office, allowing not only retention of local influence, but also some personal security. Incidentally, Ruricius was appointed bishop of Limoges after the death of king Euric on December 28, 484. This king was succeeded by his son, Alaric II. He reigned throughout Ruricius’ time as bishop, ending around at least late 506 . Apart from his letters, Ruricius' only other physical legacy is the monastery and church of Saint Augustine, which he built ca. 485 .

Writings

Ruricius’ collection of 83 letters, of which 12 are addressed to him, survive in a single manuscript called Codex Sangallensis 190. They cover a period of about 30 years, and describe what happened in Gaul after the final Roman withdrawal just before 480. The letters give insight into what the life of the literate Roman population was like under barbarian rule; what changed, and what remained. For example, they make almost no note of the effect of the Visigoths on local life and activities, posing the question as to whether the locals were very much affected. Most of Ruricius’ correspondence was directed to nearby bishops, and people in his family. Although he does have some renowned correspondents, for the most part, they are not well known. Finally, the letters of Ruricius shed light on the underlying circumstances surrounding the Battle of Vouillé, near Poitiers in 507; a fundamental battle in Gallic history, since it is where the Franks defeated the Visigoths .

Historiographical Contribution

Controversy Surrounding Relevance

Ralph W. Mathisen, the translator of the most recent set of Ruricius’ letters, writes that they are of great significance to our understanding of the survival of classical literature and the development of Western European religion and society. However, some historians criticize the letters because of their historical irrelevance. D.R. Bradley notes that the letters give insufficient information for either the ecclesiastical historian or the theologian because they neglect major contemporary events. His main argument is that Ruricius had the habit of sending verbal messages by the bearer of his letters; therefore his letters give no insight into the events of Visigothic Gaul.

Relation to Contemporaries

Similar to historiographical controversy, it is argued that in comparison to other letter writers such as Sidonius Apollinaris, Avitus of Vienne, and Ennodius of Pavia, Ruricius is extremely silent on contemporary historical events. For instance, Ruricius makes no mention in his letters of developments such as the Frankish incursions into the Visigothic kingdom, but it can be assumed that they were of great concern . Ruricius’ correspondence is therefore more representative of typical late Roman aristocratic written transactions. As such, he provides a different, and valuable, perspective to the evidence of more politically active letter writers such as Augustine, Sidonius, Avitus, Ennodius and Cassiodorus. His letters distinguish themselves from those written by Sidonius, for example, whose were composed when Gaul was still a part of the Roman Empire . Mathisen notes that the neglect of Ruricius in translation is unfortunate, because he provides a picture of life in late Roman Gaul that significantly compliments that given by Sidonius. Ruricius is a valid representative of the “Gallic rhetorical style” .

Epistolography

Ruricius’ letters demonstrate the importance of letter writing, also known as epistolography. He has many famous contemporary epistolographers, whose letters compliment those his own, and vice versa. Epistolography the most important means of preserving one’s aristocratic ties during the period of literary decline in late Roman Gaul, as the imperial literary traditions were removed.

Notes

Sources

D. R. BRADLEY "Review: The Letters of Ruricius." The Classical Review, New Series 4, no. 3/4 (1954): 268-269.

FRANK GILLIARD. "The Senators of Sixth-Century Gaul." Speculum 54, no. 4 (1979): 685-697.

R.W. MATHISEN. Ruricius of Limoges and Friends: A Collection of Letters from Visigothic Gaul. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1999.

R. W. MATHISEN. "Barbarian Bishops and the Churches "in Barbaricis Gentibus" during Late Antiquity." Speculum 72, no. 3 (1997): 664-697.

R. W. MATHISEN. Roman Aristocrats in Barbarian Gaul: Strategies for Survival in an Age of Transition. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1993.

R. W. MATHISEN. Studies in the History, Literature, and Society of Late Antiquity. Amsterdam: Hakert, 1991.

R. W. MATHISEN. Ecclesiastical Factionalism and Religious Controversy in Fifth Century Gaul. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1989.

R. W. MATHISEN. "The Theme of Literary Decline in Late Roman Gaul." Classical Philology 83, no. 1 (1988): 45-52.

R. W. MATHISEN. "Emigrants, Exiles and Survivors: Aristocratic Options in Visigothic Aquitania." Phoenix 38, no. 2 (1984): 159-170.

R. W. MATHISEN. "Epistolography, Literary Circles and Family Ties in Late Roman Gaul." Transactions of the American Philogical Association 111, (1981): 95-109.

R. W. MATHISEN, and Danuta Shanzer. Society and Culture in Late Antique Gaul: Revisiting the Sources. Michigan: Ashgate, 2001.

T. STANFORD MOMMAERTS, and DAVID H. KELLEY. "The Anicii of Gaul and Rome." In Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity? Edited by John Drinkwater and Hugh Elton. Cambridge, 1992.