Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Could this Caesaria be a connection of the Châlons/ Arles Caesarii? The
mysterious Caesaria of Clermont is attested to in 555 and subsequently in 572/3, as the
wife of Britianus/ Britanus, the count of Javols. 39 According to Gregory of Tours’
Histories, this Caesaria was the sister-in-law of count Firminus and took refuge with him
in the cathedral in Clermont as a result of the persecution of Chramn (Book IV:13).
Caesaria’s son Palladius subsequently inherited the position of count of Javols (Book
IV:39), but made several enemies ‘despite his mother’s vigilance’ and ultimately killed
himself. 40 Was this another member of the Caesarii with an interest in fostering female
dedicated life? Fascinating as it would be to find family interest extending over
generations, it is impossible to do more than speculate.
Moving back into the reading of hagiography, one may also turn to the evidence
of the Lives of female saints for the adoption of the Regula virginum. This, however, can
be inconclusive, as the intermingling of rules and practices can suggest a number of
options for the rule in use at any given monastery. The vita Sadalbergae abbatissae
Laudunensis viduae, a ninth-century Life of a seventh-century abbess, appears to reveal
knowledge of Caesarian monastic practice, in the detail that Sadalberga herself took part
in the weekly cooking duty. 41 However, knowledge of several monastic traditions seems
to have been current at Laon. For instance, nuns were appointed as cellaress for the space
of a year, as provided for in both the Regula Benedicti and Regula Columbani. 42 As in the
case of Chamalières, some form of mixed rule may be the most likely normative text to
have been used at Laon.
More striking are the references in the Life of Glodesind (composed c.830). This
text, set late in the sixth century, describes the struggle of one young woman to embark
upon a dedicated life in opposition to the wish of her parents. 43 With their eventual
39
PLRE 3, 258.
40
Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum, IV:39, trans. L. Thorpe, The History of the Franks, 234.
41
Vita Sadalbergae abbatissae Laudunensis viduae MGH SSRM 5: 40-66, at c.23. Tr. at SWDA 176-194.
The reference is to RV 14.
42
Vita Sadalbergae c. 20; Regula Benedicti c. 31; Regula Columbani c.61.
43
Vita Glodesindis, AASS July 25, 198-244. Tr. at SWDA 137 – 154.
139