Venantius Fortunatus: Personal and Political Poems(23 Translated Texts for Historians)

Venantius Fortunatus, writing in the latter half of the sixth century, was not only a major Latin poet, but also an important historical figure. He travelled as a young man to seek patronage in the courts of Merovingian Gaul, writing both formal and informal poetry for three of the royal brothers, Sigibert, Charibert and Chilperic, and for many influential figures in ecclesiastical and secular life. His poems paint a picture of a literary, not merely literate, culture, which complement’s Gregory’s canvas of bloodthirsty dynastic feuding.

Table of Contents:
Abbreviations Genealogical table of the Merovingian Royal Family Map of Europe at the time of Fortunatus Introduction Book Three Poem 3.13: to Vilicus, Bishop of Metz Poem 3.13 a - d: to Vilicus, Bishop of Metz Book Four Poem 4.16: epitaph for Atticus Poem 4.17: epitaph for the young man, Arcadius Poem 4.19: epitaph for Aracharius Poem 4.20: epitaph for Brumachius Poem 4.22: epitaph for the innocents Poem 4.35: epitaph for Queen Theudechild Poem 4.26: epitaph for Vilithuta Poem 4.28: epitaph for Eusebia Book Five Poem 5.2: to Martin, Bishop of Galicia Poem 5.8: to Bishop Gregory, after a journey Poem 5. 8a: to the same Poem 5. 8b: to the same for the gift of a book Poem 5.13: to the same for the apples and the grafting slips Poem 5.17: a greeting to the same Book Six Poem 6. 1: on the king, Lord Sigibert, and the queen, Brunhild Poem 6. la: on King Sigibert and Queen Brunhild Poem 6.2: on King Charibert Poem 6.3: on Queen Theudechi Id Poem 6.5: on Galswinth Poem 6.6: on Ultrogotha's garden Poem 6.7: on the villa Cantusblandus, on the subject of apples Poem 6.8: about the cook who took the poet's boat Poem 6.9: to Dynamius of Marseilles Book Seven Poem 7.1: to Gogo Poem 7.7: on Duke Lupus Poem 7. 8: to Duke Lupus Poem 7.16: on Conda, the domesticus Poem 7. 24 a - g: verses on a salver and for festive occasions Book Eight Poem 8.2: on the subject of his journey, when he should have journeyed to Lord Germanus, and was held back by the Lady Radegund Poem 8.6: to Lady Radegund about violets Poem 8.7: to Lady Radegund and Agnes about the flowers upon the altar Poem 8.18: to Bishop Gregory in greeting Poem 8.19: to Bishop Gregory for the present of a villa Poem 8.21: to Bishop Gregory for the skins he sent Book Nine Poem 9.1: to King Chilperic on the occasion of the synod at Berny-Riviere Poem 9.2: to Chilperic and Queen Fredegund Poem 9.3: to Chilperic and Fredegund Poem 9.4: epitaph on the tomb of Lord Chlodobert Poem 9.5: epitaph on Dagobert Poem 9.6: to Bishop Gregory on the Sapphic verses Poem 9.7: to Bishop Gregory Book Ten Poem 10. 8: in praise of King Childebert and Queen Brunhild Poem 10.9: on his voyage Book Eleven Poem 11. 6: to Agnes Poem 11. 8: to Agnes Poem 11.11: a poem about flowers Poem 11.13: to Lady Radegund and Agnes, for the chestnuts Poem 11. 14: to Agnes,for the milk Poem 11. 19: for the other delicacies and for the milk Poem 11.23: verses composed after a feast Poem 11. 25: to Lady Radegund and Agnes about his journey Poem 11. 26: to Lady Radegund Appendix Appendix 2: to Justin and Sophia, Augusti Appendix 3: to Artachis Appendix 5: on King Childebert Appendix 6: on Queen Brunhild Appendix 10: to Lady Radegund and Agnes Appendix 11: another poem Appendix 15: to Radegund and Agnes Appendix 26: to Radegund and Agnes Appendix 31: to Lady Radegund Biographical notes Select bibliography Index 1 The titles to the poems are later additions and subject to scribal error. Where they appear particularly inaccurate or are of the "more of the same (item aliud)" variety, alternative titles have been substituted. These are indicated ad loco.