Natales Aliquot Sanctorum ex Fastis Consularibus excerpti

SOME NATAL DAYS OF SAINTS EXCERPTED FROM THE CONSULAR FASTI. We find in the same manuscript of Cuspinian two catalogues of Roman consuls, quite ancient, of which the first ends around the year 503 of the common era, the second around 536: both begin with Gaius Julius Caesar. The names of the consuls are in both cases very poorly written, and not infrequently ill-ordered, with pairs of consuls who were never colleagues being joined together from time to time. Hence we did not consider it worthwhile to describe all the consuls. However, to the various consulships were inserted various deeds of various persons and also the martyrdoms of saints, with the Kalends, Nones, and Ides on which they suffered usually added. I thought these should be transcribed, because they can be useful both for our own purposes and for those of others; not, however, that I wish everything I have excerpted to be approved, but so that at least they may be consulted in doubtful matters. I give everything as I have excerpted it, omitting the consuls except for those under whose consulship the narrated events are noted to have occurred, and those who are said to have succeeded in the following year; so that by comparing the two consulships with better consular fasti, the time at which the deeds that are narrated occurred may be more easily and more certainly determined. Therefore, receive here the older catalogue, which I said ends before the end of the fifth century: at the same time, note in the specimen the unreliable writing of the catalogue.

In the first consulship, Gaius Julius Caesar is given as colleague Marcus Antoninus for Antonius; in the second, Chrysauricus is placed, a name of which there was never a consul at Rome, and it should be written Isaurius. Examine the rest similarly; finally, know that what is written here in Roman letters is written in the codex in red; the rest, written in common black ink, is expressed here in italic letters, namely the names of the consuls. The catalogue begins as follows: There were all the years from when the earth was founded up to Gaius Julius Caesar, years 5,044. First emperor G. Julius Caesar. Under Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Antoninus. Under Chrysauricus and Antoninus. In these consulships Caesar was killed, who discovered the bissextile year and the course of the moon. On the 10th day before the Kalends of January, first moon; and Octavianus received the empire as a boy of 18 years. Under Lentulus and Orestes. Under Lepidus and Plancus. In these consulships three suns appeared in the sky.

Censorinus and Salvinus. Cicero and Antoninus. In their consulship, Augustus received the name. Augustus and Tullius. Augustus for the sixth time and Agrippa. In their consulship, Carthage was restored on the Ides of July. Augustus for the seventh time and Agrippa. Saturninus and Cinna. In their consulship, Virgil dies at sixty years of age. The two Lentuli. Domitius and Ahenobarbus. In their consulship, the Aqua Virgo was brought to Rome. Libo and Piso. Augustus for the twelfth time and Silanus. In their consulship, Christ was born on the eighth day before the Kalends of January, the moon being fourteen days old. Lentulus and Piso. Year 14. Pompeius and Aquileius. In their consulship, Augustus died at seventy-seven years of age. Drusus and Flaccus. Bassus (read Crassus) and Piso. In their consulship, John the Baptist suffered. The two Gemini. In their consulship, Christ suffered on the eighth day before the Kalends of April. Tiberius for the third time and Silius (read Sejanus). Tiberius for the fourth time and Gallus. In their consulship, the apostle Peter came to Rome. Crispinus and Taurus. Vitellius for the second time and Publicola.

In their consulship, the phoenix first appeared. Veranus and Gallus. Nero for the second time and Piso. In their consulship, Peter and Paul suffered at Rome on the third day before the Kalends of July. Nero for the third time and Messala. Marius and Gallus. In their consulship, James the apostle in Jerusalem was thrown down from the pinnacle of the temple by the Jews on the fifth day before the Kalends of January. Rufus and Regulus. Capito and Rufus. In their consulship, Nero disappeared from the empire. Italicus and Turpilio. Commodus and Rufus. In their consulship, the Jews were conquered by the emperor Vespasian. Vespasian for the eighth time and Titus for the seventh time. Hadrian and Salinator. In their consulship, the sun suffered an eclipse. 119. Hadrian and Rusticus. Antoninus for the fourth time and Aurelius. From Gaius Julius Caesar to the two Augusti there are 244 years. The two Augusti. Plautianus and Geta. In their consulship, Perpetua and Felicitas suffered on the Nones of March. Chilo and Libo. Decius and Gratus. In their consulship, there was a persecution of Christians, that they should sacrifice to idols.

Decius for the second time and Rusticus. In their consulship, Saint Lawrence suffered on the third day before the Ides of August. Gallus and Volusianus. Tuscus and Bassus. In their consulship, Cyprian suffered at Carthage on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of October. Aemilianus and Bassus for the second time. Diocletian for the seventh time and Maximian for the fifth time. In their consulship, the churches were demolished, and the Lord’s books were burned, and Saint Euphemia suffered on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of October. Diocletian for the eighth time and Maximian for the sixth time. Constantius for the sixth time and Maximian for the sixth time. In their consulship, Timothy suffered at Rome on the tenth day before the Kalends of July. Diocletian for the ninth time and Maximian for the seventh time. Nepotianus and Facundus. In their consulship, Luke and Andrew entered Constantinople (namely, in the translation of their bodies). Felicianus and Titianus. Valentinian and Valens. In their consulship, the sea’s advance and retreat occurred on the twelfth day before the Kalends of August. Gratian, Nobilissimus Puer, and Dagalaifus. After the consulship of Gratian for the third time and Equitius for the fourth time. In their consulship, the Sarmatians devastated all of Pannonia.

Valentinian for the fifth time and Valens for the fifth time. Auxonius and Olybrius. In their consulship, Theodosius was raised as emperor by Gratian at Sirmium. Gratian for the fifth time and Theodosius. Merobaudes for the second time and Saturninus. In their consulship, Gratian was killed by Maximus at Lendunum on the eighth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, Honorius was born at Constantinople on the fifth day before the Ides of September, and Arcadius was raised. Richomeres and Clearchus. Theodosius for the second time and Cynegius. In their consulship, Maximus was killed on the fifth day before the Kalends of September. Timasius and Promotus. In their consulship, Theodosius entered Rome with Honorius on the Ides of June and departed from there on the third day before the Kalends of September. Valentinian for the fourth time and Neoterius. In their consulship, a sign appeared in the sky like a column hanging for twenty days. Tatianus and Symmachus. In their consulship, Valentinian died at Vienna on the fourth day before the Ides of June. On that day, Eugenius was raised as emperor on the eleventh day before the Kalends of September. Arcadius for the seventh time and Rufinus. Theodosius for the sixth time and Abundantius. In their consulship, darkness occurred on the day of the sun at the second hour, on the sixth day before the Kalends of November, and Honorius was raised as emperor at Constantinople in the fourth milestone by his father Theodosius on the tenth day before the Kalends of February.

Arcadius for the third time and Honorius for the second time. In their consulship, Eugenius was killed on the eighth day before the Ides of September. Olybrius and Probinus. Arcadius for the fourth time and Honorius for the third time. In their consulship, Theodosius died at Milan on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of January, 397. Caesarius and Atticus. Honorius for the fourth time and Eutychianus. In their consulship, Gildo was killed on the day before the Kalends of August. Flavius Stilicho and Aurelius. Vincentius and Fravitta. In their consulship, Theodosius was born at Constantinople on the Ides of April, and Alaric entered Italy on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of December. Arcadius for the fifth time and Honorius for the fifth time. Theodosius and Rumordus. In their consulship, Theodosius was raised as emperor at Constantinople on the fourth day before the Ides of January. And Maximus was raised as emperor on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of April, and was killed on the day before the Ides of June. And Gaiseric entered Rome and plundered it for fourteen days. And Avitus was raised as emperor in Gaul on the sixth day before the Ides of July. And Sabaria was overthrown by an earthquake on the seventh day before the Ides of September, on a Friday. John and Varus.

In their consulship, Remissus the Patrician was killed in the Palace on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of October. And the emperor was taken captive at Placentia by Ricimer, Master of Soldiers, and Messiam his Patrician was killed on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of November. Constantinus and Rufus. In their consulship, Ricimer, Master of Soldiers, was made Patrician on the day before the Kalends of March. And Majorian was made Master of Soldiers on the same day. And the Lord Emperor Majorian was raised up on the Kalends of April at the sixth milestone in the field at the Columns. Leo Augustus and Apollonius. Flavius Ricimer and Patricius. Magnus and Apollonius. Severinus and Dagalaiphus. In their consulship, the Emperor Majorian was deposed by the Patrician Ricimer at Dertona on the fourth day before the Nones of August, and was killed at the river Ira on the seventh day before the Ides of August. And the Lord Emperor Severus was raised up on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of December. Leo II and Severus. Rusticus and Olybrius. In their consulship, Beorgor, king of the Alans, was killed at Bergamo in the Piedmont on the eighth day before the Ides of February. Herminericus and Basilius. In their consulship, the Emperor Severus died at Rome on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of September.

Leo III and Tatian Puseus and John In their consulship, the Emperor Lord Anthemius was raised up at Rome on the day before the Ides of April. Our Lord Anthemius Augustus II In his consulship, Marcellinus was killed in Sicily in the month of August. Marcian and Zeno II Festus and Marcian In their consulship, civil war was waged at Rome between the Emperor Anthemius and Ricimer the Patrician. And the Emperor Olybrius was raised up at Rome. And the Emperor Anthemius was killed on the fifth day before the Ides of July. And Ricimer died on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, Gundobad was made Patrician by the Emperor Olybrius, and the Emperor Olybrius died at Rome on the tenth day before the Kalends of November. Leo Augustus V In this consulship, the Emperor Glycerius was raised up at Ravenna on the third day before the Nones of March. Our Lord Leo the Younger Augustus In their consulship... Glycerius from the imperial office at the port of the city of Rome. In that year, the Lord Julius Nepos was raised up on the eighth day before the Kalends of July. After the consulship of Leo the Younger Augustus In their consulship, the Patrician Orestes entered Ravenna with an army and put the Emperor Nepos to flight to Dalmatia on the fifth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, the Emperor Augustulus was raised up at Ravenna by his father, the Patrician Orestes, on the day before the Kalends of November.

Basilisco II and Armatus. In their consulship, King Odoacer was raised up on the tenth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, the Patrician Orestes was killed at Placentia on the fifth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, his brother Paulus was killed at Ravenna in the Pine Grove on the day before the Nones of September. After the consulship of Basilisco and Armatus. In their consulship, Branila was killed by King Odoacer on the fifth day before the Ides of July at Ravenna. Hello, sole consul, 480. Basilio the Younger, sixth consulship. In his consulship, the Emperor Nepos is killed on the seventh day before the Ides of May. Placidus, sole consul. In his consulship, ... was killed on the seventh day before the Ides of October. Severinus, sole consul. In his consulship, ... was killed in Dalmatia on the fifth day before the Kalends of December. Fausto, sole consul. Vetius, sole consul. In this consulship, a battle was fought between King Odoacer and Feunanus, King of the Jugri, and Odoacer was victorious, and he led away Feunanus the king as a captive on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of December. Dinan and Sifidius. In their consulship, the bridge of Apollinaris burned by night on Easter, on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of May. Probinus and Eusebius.

With Faustus sole consul. In his consulship, King Theoderic entered the camp at the Bridge of the Sontius on the fifth day before the Kalends of September; and King Odoacer fled from the camp and went to Verona. In that year, King Odoacer entered the camp at the Eruli in the Pine Forest, and Libila, Master of Soldiers, was killed, and peoples fell on both sides, and King Odoacer shut himself up in Ravenna on the sixth day before the Ides of July, and King Theoderic returned to Ticinum on the twentieth day before the Kalends of September. With Domnus Anastasius Augustus and Rufus. In their consulship, an earthquake occurred by night before the crowing of the cocks on the seventh day before the Kalends of June. With Albinus sole consul. In this consulship, King Theoderic returned to Ariminum and came with a troop of dragoons to the camp at Palatiolum on the fourth day before the Kalends of September. In that year, a battle was fought between Theoderic and Eufanes, Master of Soldiers, between Tridentum and Verona. In this consulship, peace was made between Lord King Theoderic and Odoacer on the third day before the Kalends of March. And Lord Theoderic entered the fleet...

In this consulship, King Theoderic entered Ravenna on the third day before the Nones of March, and King Odoacer was killed by King Theoderic in the palace together with his fellow soldiers. And these things indeed have been excerpted from the first catalogue: to which we thought nothing should be added, except the years of the common era in which the named consuls served, to aid the reader's memory; so that from this the number of consulships, which is wrongly ascribed to many consuls perhaps from the carelessness of scribes, might be more easily corrected. The second catalogue, which we have mentioned, is much more confused and faulty, and contains more things that pertain to secular history than to sacred. It sets down that under the consuls the Two Gemini, who were consuls in the twenty-ninth year of the common era, Christ suffered on the eighth day before the Kalends of April, on a Friday, with the moon in its third day, in the thirty-first year of his advent. I would believe it was written by the author, as it ought to have been written, in the twenty-ninth year; because next after the consulship of the Gemini he notes Unicius and Longinus, who were in the thirtieth year of the common era. It also has some chronological notes. For instance, that from the Passion of the Lord up to the consulship of Niger and Apronianus were eighty-four years. Likewise, that from the advent of the Lord up to the consulship of Viator were five hundred years. The consuls Niger and Apronianus were in the one hundred and seventeenth year of the common era; Viator, however, in the three hundred and ninety-fourth. Let the reader see whether he can draw any advantage from this, and whatever errors he has noticed in the catalogue, let him correct for himself: I do not pursue the matter further.

We have also another ancient manuscript work, completed under Pope Liberius, who was created in the year 352, which enumerates the Roman pontiffs up to that time, indicating who presided over the Church for how long, and under which Roman consuls each began and ended. But because Bucherius long ago published this same work from our manuscript in his commentary on Victorius of Aquitaine’s Paschal Canon, page 269, and especially because our Henschenius, before the first volume of the Acts of the Saints for April, reprinted it and diligently illustrated it with many details, we refer the eager reader to that source; so that here at last we may finish the acts of the saints for the first half of the year, or the first six months, begun by Father John Bolland, shaped by Father Godefrid Henschen, and wonderfully advanced by Father Daniel Papebroeck; now proceeding, with God and the saints helping, to the second half of the year, after which those who will then labor on the work will finally reprint and double the months of January and February, which, as the beginning of the work, are more imperfect and stand in need of a great accession of acts, collected later and especially in the year 1660 by Henschenius and Papebroeck, who traveled through Germany, Italy, and France for that purpose. The remaining months, which were published after the aforementioned year, do not stand in such need.