Page 147 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

The saint as envoy: bishops’ Lives

A third aspect of Constantius’ narrative is its drama: the drama not only
of the public performance of miracles, but also of worldly events, skilfully
elaborated by Constantius’ prose. 24 The repulse of the Picts and Saxons
in the ‘Alleluia victory’ well displays Constantius’ talent for narrative, but
perhaps the best piece of dramatic narrative from the fifth-century West
is Germanus’ bold confrontation with the Alan war-leader Goar:

Barely had he returned from his overseas expedition, and already an embassy
from the Armorican tract sought out the weariness of the blessed bishop. For the
magnificent Aetius, who then ruled public affairs, was offended by the insolence
of that proud region, and had committed it to be overthrown, in punishment
for its rebellious presumption, by Goar, the most fierce king of the Alans, who
lusted after it with barbarian greed. And so, against a bellicose tribe and an idol-
worshipping king, was opposed an old man, alone; yet by Christ’s aid, greater
and stronger than all.
Without delay he hastily set out, since the weapons of war were at hand.
Already the tribe had advanced, and iron-clad horsemen filled the whole route,
yetour priestwas borne along his way until he reached the king himself whom
he pursued. He methim already advancing on his journey, and stood before
the armed general amongst the throngs of his followers. Through an interpreter,
he first poured forth a prayer of supplication; next, he rebuked the one who
rejected him; finally, thrusting forth his hand, he seized the reins of the bridle,
and thus brought to a halt the entire army. 25
Here and elsewhere, Constantius skilfully injects a sense of escalating
drama absentfrom earlier saintly biography. 26
A final aspect of Constantius’ narrative is the image of Germanus.
The bishop, while in many respects presented within the stiff imagery of
hagiographic convention, personifies consensus. Germanus’ requests are
won – or lost – by unanimity: the praetorian prefect of Gaul Auxiliaris
‘soughtfrom the mostblessed man thathe should deign to acceptwhat
he was about to ask for’; even with Goar, once his attention has been
caught, ‘the weapons of war and the clamour of arms gave place to the

24
Drama of public miracles: Peter Brown, The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin
Christianity (Chicago, 1981).
25
Constantius, Vita Germani, 28: vixdum domum de transmarina expeditione remeauerat,et iam legatio
Armoricani tractus fatigationem beati antistitis ambiebat. Offensus enim superbae insolentia regionis vir
magnificus Aetius qui tum rem publicam gubernabat Goari ferocissimo Alanorum regi loca illa inclinanda
pro rebellionis praesumptioe permiserat,quae ille aviditate barbaricae cupiditatis inhiauerat. Itaque genti
bellicossimae regique idolorum ministro obicitur senex unus sed tamen omnibus Christi praesidio maior et
fortior. Nec mora festinus egreditur,quia imminebat bellicus apparatus. Iam progressa gens fuerat totumque
iter eques ferratus impleuerat,et tamen sacerdos noster obvius ferebatur donec ad regem ipsum qui sequebatur
accederet. Occurrit in itinere,iam progresso,et armato duci inter suorum catervas opponitur,medioque
interprete primum precem supplicem fundit,deinde increpat differentem,ad extremum manu iniecta,freni
habenas invadit atque in eo universum sistit exercitum.
26
Borius, Introduction to Vie de Germain, 22–3, 38–42, 63.
121