Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

ecords that ‘she [Radegund] and the mother superior whom she had appointed were
forced to turn instead to Arles. There they received the rule of saint Caesarius and the
blessed Caesaria.’ 80 The suggestion that Gregory meant to record an actual visit for the
purposes of ‘taking’ the rule was first articulated by René Aigrain in 1926. 81 One
problem with this theory may lie in Gregory’s own description. His use of the verb
expetere suggests less a physical journey than a desire or intention or requirement.
Further, as de Vogüé points out, while such a visit was possible, given Radegund’s desire
to place her foundation under the protection of the deceased bishop, it was highly
unlikely it would have been undertaken for the purposes of obtaining the rule. 82 As de
Vogüé notes, other dateable events in Gregory’s narrative suggest that this visit could not
have taken place before about 570. 83 The late date of a putative visit, several years after
the foundation of Holy Cross, must suggest that the monastery had already been living
according to a rule. If a visit was undertaken, it would imply that Radegund and Agnes
were aware of the contents of the rule, in order for the lengthy voyage to be deemed
useful. It is far more probable that the connection between Caesaria and Radegund was
one of correspondence.
A variety of evidence exists for Radegund’s life as for few other early medieval
figures, and many of the narrative sources describing her activities also refer to her
adoption of Caesarius’ Regula virginum. Gregory of Tours’ Libri Historiarum provide
valuable information on the use of the rule, particularly due to his citation of the
foundation letters of Holy Cross. 84 In the previous chapter, Radegund’s reference to ‘the
Rule in accordance with which Saint Caesaria had lived, and which in his loving care
Saint Caesarius had drawn up... to suit her very needs’ was noted. 85 In the letter to
Radegund from the bishops, reference is made to the fact that a woman who has entered
80
Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks IX:40, tr. L. Thorpe, 530. ‘Post haec, cum ponteficis sui
saepius gratiam quaereret nec possit adipisci, necessitate commota, cum abbatissa sua, quam instituerat,
Arelatensim urbem expetunt.’ MGH SRM 1.1, 464.
81
R. Aigrain, ‘Le voyage de Sainte Radegonde à Arles’, Bulletin philologique et historique (1926-7), 119-
27.
82
De Vogüé, Œuvres pour les moniales, 448-9.
83
De Vogüé, Œuvres pour les moniales, 446.
84
Gregory of Tours, Historiae IX:39-42. Ed. Krusch, MGH SSRM 1, 460-6.
85
Gregory of Tours, Historiae IX.42, tr. Thorpe, 535.
90