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Martin of Braga (c. 520–c. 579 CE), abbot of Dumium and bishop of Bracara Augusta, became the most important bishop of the 6th century CE in the former Roman province of Gallaecia, in what is now northern Portugal and northwestern Spain, where he had a significant and fruitful ministry in the Germanic kingdom of the Sueves. All the significant biographical information that we have about Martin of Braga comes from various sources: Gregory of Tours, De virtutibus sancti Martini (1.11) and Liber historiarum (5.37); Venantius Fortunatus, Ad Martinum episcopum Galliciensiem (5.1.2); Mar…

Founded under Augustus and situated in northwestern Spain, Bracara Augusta (Braga) was the main urban center of Hispania Gallaecia, one of the most westerly Roman provinces on the continent. After the Christianization of the Roman Empire, particularly from the 4th through 6th centuries CE, the archbishops (Archbishop) of Braga played a leading role in political and ecclesial matters. The Germanic Sueves, who carved out a kingdom in greater Gallaecia from 409 to 585 CE, also made Braga their sedes regiae (royal throne). During this time, Braga became the major center of…

Pacian of Barcelona ( Barcino) was born (4th. cent. CE) and lived in a city that positioned him to be knowledgeable of the developments in the church of the greater Mediterranean. His renown was such that even the far removed (relative to Hispania) Jerome dedicated an entry to him in his famous De viris illustribus (ch. 106), and a second reference in chapter 132. This in light of the fact that Jerome had literally dozens of potential candidates to pick from for his work on prominent men. What is significant is that this brief notice is the only…

Even though we possess sources about and from Fructuosus (c. 610/615–c. 665 CE), we have little information about his biography. One of the most interesting works is Vita sancti Fructuosi, an anonymous work, composed close to his time of death. As it is a work of hagiography with the standard embellishments, its focus is primarily on his ascetical qualities showing no interest about other aspects of his life. The date of his birth is placed between 610 and 615 CE, very likely in the Narbonne region, where his family of…

Potamius (4th cent. CE) is considered one of the earliest writer from 4th-century CE Hispania and was a contemporary of Osius of Córdoba, the famous bishop who was at the Council of Nicaea. Of Potamius’ personal biography we know absolutely nothing. We do not know when he was born or died, or his birthplace. We are on sure ground that he was indeed bishop of Lisbon (Olisipo) quite literally on the western edge of the Roman Empire. His appointment as bishop is believed to be around 355/35…