Gregory of Tours
Born to an aristocratic family as Georgius Florentius and educated by his uncle, the Bishop of Clermont, Gregory followed in the footsteps of many of his relatives when he too joined the Church. He became embroiled in the politics of the kingdom of the Franks when he granted sanctuary to the king's son, and weathered a series of violent upheavals and transfers of power among the rulers.
Gregory wrote several saints' lives and books of miracles, but he is perhaps best known for his History of the Franks, which includes a biography of Clovis. Althoug his writings are by no means unimpeachable sources, they provide us with most of what we know about the Merovingian kings and Europe in the sixth century.
Important Dates
Born: Nov. 30, c. 538
At About
Top 10 Books on Gregory of Tours
The best books available on Gregory, selected by About European History Guide Robert Wilde.
On the Web
General
Catholic Encyclopedia: Gregory of Tours
An extensive biography by H. LeClercq.A Visual Tour through Late Antiquity
A general overview of the world of Gregory of Tours is enhanced by links to dozens of images of artwork dating to the general era in which he lived. Nicely done by Steve Muhlberger at Nipissing University.
Online Work
The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours
Abridged translation by Earnest Brehaut in 1916, made available online at Paul Halsall's Medieval Sourcebook.
Related Resources
Philosophy & Theology
A multi-page index of philosophical and theological theories and the individuals who contributed them, from the early Middle Ages to the early Modern Age.Early Europe
Directory of sites that offer useful resources for the study of Europe in Late Antiquty, or shortly after the fall of Rome.Hagiography
Indices, primary sources, and general sites focusing on the study of Saints' lives.
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Who's Who in Medieval History is copyright © 2000-2010 Melissa Snell. All rights reserved.
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