Saint Venantius Fortunatus

Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (c. 530 – c. 600/609 AD; French: Venance Fortunat), known as Saint Venantius Fortunatus , was a Latin poet and hymnographer in the Merovingian Court, and a Christian bishop who has been venerated since the Middle Ages. Venantius Fortunatus was born between 530 and 540 at Duplavis (or Duplavilis), near Treviso in Veneto, Italy. He grew up during the Roman reconquest of Italy, but there is controversy as to where he spent his childhood. Some historians, such as D. Tardi, suggest that Fortunatus' family moved to Aquileia because of the turbulent political situation in Treviso after the death of King Theoderic. This theory is suggested because there is evidence of Fortunatus speaking warmly about one of the bishops there, Bishop Paul of Aquileia. Other scholars, such as Judith George, suggest that his family never moved to Aquileia, pointing out that the poet speaks more of Duplavis than any other place regarding his childhood. Sometime in the 550s or 60s, he travelled to Ravenna to study. While there, he was given a classical education, in the Roman manner. His later work shows familiarity with not only classical Latin poets such as Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Statius, and Martial, but also with Christian poets, including Arator, Claudian, and Coelius Sedulius, and shows signs of their influence. In addition, it is probable that Fortunatus had some knowledge of the Greek language and classical Greek writers and philosophers, as throughout his poetry and prose he makes reference at times to these latter and to Greek terms. Fortunatus eventually moved to Metz in the spring of 566, probably with the specific intention of becoming a poet at the Merovingian Court. It was there his successful career really began. To reach Metz, he took a winding route, passing through four modern countries: Italy, Austria, Germany and France. Fortunatus himself explains two entirely different reasons for this route.