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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 9, 23. Of the Death of Bishop Ageric, and Concerning His Successor
Ageric, bishop of Verdun, fell seriously ill, through the sore grief that afflicted him day by day because Guntram Boso, for whom he had stood surety, had been slain, and through an added bitterness, because Berthefred had been killed in the oratory of the church house;1 yet more, through his daily lamentation for Guntram’s sons, whom he still kept in his dwelling. For he would say: ‘On account of the hatred felt for me ye are now left orphans.’ Excited by reason of these things, and oppressed, as I have said, by bitterness of heart, but above all worn down by the rigour of his fasting, he died and was laid in the tomb. The abbot Buccovald contended for his bishopric, but had no success. For the citizens agreed in the choice of Charimer, the referendary, who was appointed bishop by royal decree, while Buccovald was passed over. They say that this man was overweening in his pride, for which cause some gave him the nickname ‘Big Cheek ’.2 Licerius,3 bishop of Arles, likewise died, to whose place succeeded Virgilius, abbot of Autun, with the support of Bishop Syagrius.4
Notes
- Cf. above, chs. 10, 12.
- Buccus validus. The substantive should properly be bucca.
- Cf. VIII. 39.
- Bishop of Autun.