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Sigismund was a student of [[Avitus of Vienne]], the Catholic [[bishop of Vienne]] who converted Sigismund from the [[Arianism|Arian]] faith of his Burgundian forebears.<ref>John Bagnell Bury, ''History of the Later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the death of Justianian'', Vol. I, (Dover Publications, 1958), 463.</ref> Sigismund was inspired to found a monastery dedicated to [[Saint Maurice]] at [[Agaunum|Agaune]] in [[Valais]] in 515.<ref>''Perennial Prayer at Agaune'', Barbara H. Rosewein, '''Monks and Nuns, Saints and Outcasts''', ed. Lester K. Little, Sharon A. Farmer and Barbara H Rosenwein, (Cornell University Press, 2000), 39-40.</ref> The following year he became king of the Burgundians. Sigismund's son opposed him in 517, and insulted his new wife, so Sigismund had him strangled. Then, overcome with remorse, Sigismund retreated to the monastery that he had founded.
Sigismund was a student of [[Avitus of Vienne]], the Catholic [[bishop of Vienne]] who converted Sigismund from the [[Arianism|Arian]] faith of his Burgundian forebears.<ref>John Bagnell Bury, ''History of the Later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the death of Justianian'', Vol. I, (Dover Publications, 1958), 463.</ref> Sigismund was inspired to found a monastery dedicated to [[Saint Maurice]] at [[Agaunum|Agaune]] in [[Valais]] in 515.<ref>''Perennial Prayer at Agaune'', Barbara H. Rosewein, '''Monks and Nuns, Saints and Outcasts''', ed. Lester K. Little, Sharon A. Farmer and Barbara H Rosenwein, (Cornell University Press, 2000), 39-40.</ref> The following year he became king of the Burgundians. Sigismund's son opposed him in 517, and insulted his new wife, so Sigismund had him strangled. Then, overcome with remorse, Sigismund retreated to the monastery that he had founded.


In 523, [[Clotilde]], daughter of [[Chilperic II of Burgundy]] who had been slain by Sigismund's father Gundobad in 493, took revenge for the murder of her father, when she incited her sons against Sigismund, and provoked the Burgundian War, which led to Sigismund's deposition and imprisonment, and his assassination the following year. In 523, the [[Kingdom of the Burgundians]] was invaded by the four [[Frankish]] kings, [[Chlodomer]], [[Childebert I]], [[Clotaire I]] and [[Theodebert I]], children of Frankish king [[Clovis I]] and Sigismund's second cousins by Clotilde. Sigismund led the Burgundian defence but lost the battle, and put on a monk's habit and hid in a cell near his abbey. He was captured by Chlodomer, taken to Aurelianum (modern [[Orléans]]), beheaded and thrown in a well.<ref>Gábor Klaniczay, ''Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe'', (Cambridge University Press, 2000), 67.</ref>
In 523, [[Clotilde]], daughter of [[Chilperic II of Burgundy]] who had been slain by Sigismund's father Gundobad in 493, took revenge for the murder of her father, when she incited her sons against Sigismund, and provoked the Burgundian War, which led to Sigismund's deposition and imprisonment, and his assassination the following year. In 523, the [[Kingdom of the Burgundians]] was invaded by the four [[Frankish]] kings, [[Chlodomer]], [[Childebert I]], [[Clotaire I]] and [[Theodebert I]], children of Frankish king [[Clovis I]] and Sigismund's second cousins by Clotilde. Sigismund and his brother [[Godomar]] led the Burgundian defence but lost the battle. Godomar fled while Sigismund put on a monk's habit and hid in a cell near his abbey. He was captured by Chlodomer, king of [[Orléans]], taken to Aurelianum (modern Orléans). Godomar then rallied the Burgundian army which regained his territory. Meanwhile, in 524, Chlodomer ordered the death of Sigismund, who was beheaded and thrown in a well.<ref>Gábor Klaniczay, ''Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe'', (Cambridge University Press, 2000), 67.</ref>

Sigismund was succeeded on the throne by Godomar.


In 535, Sigismund's remains were recovered from the well at [[Coulmiers]] and buried in the monastery at [[Agaunum|Agaune]].<ref>Gábor Klaniczay, ''Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe'', 67-68.</ref> Eventually Sigismund was [[canonization|canonized]]. Correspondence has survived between Sigismund and Avitus, who was a poet and one of the last masters of the classical arts.
In 535, Sigismund's remains were recovered from the well at [[Coulmiers]] and buried in the monastery at [[Agaunum|Agaune]].<ref>Gábor Klaniczay, ''Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe'', 67-68.</ref> Eventually Sigismund was [[canonization|canonized]]. Correspondence has survived between Sigismund and Avitus, who was a poet and one of the last masters of the classical arts.

Revision as of 06:27, 24 July 2013

For other nobles of the same name, please see Sigismund
Saint Sigismund of Burgundy
Fresco by Piero della Francesca
DiedAD 524
Orléans
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Feast1 May
PatronageCzech Republic
Herma of Saint Sigismund in Płock

Sigismund (died 524) was king of the Burgundians from 516 to his death. He was the son of king Gundobad, whom he succeeded in 516. Sigismund and his brother Godomar were defeated in battle by Clovis' sons and Godomar fled. Sigismund was taken by Chlodomer, King of Orléans, where he was kept as a prisoner. He was drowned in the village of St Pervay la Colombe, near Orléans. Godomar then rallied the Burgundian army and won back his kingdom. Meanwhile, Chlodomer ordered the death of Sigismund and marched with his brother Theuderic I, King of Metz, on Burgundy in 524.

Life

Sigismund was a student of Avitus of Vienne, the Catholic bishop of Vienne who converted Sigismund from the Arian faith of his Burgundian forebears.[1] Sigismund was inspired to found a monastery dedicated to Saint Maurice at Agaune in Valais in 515.[2] The following year he became king of the Burgundians. Sigismund's son opposed him in 517, and insulted his new wife, so Sigismund had him strangled. Then, overcome with remorse, Sigismund retreated to the monastery that he had founded.

In 523, Clotilde, daughter of Chilperic II of Burgundy who had been slain by Sigismund's father Gundobad in 493, took revenge for the murder of her father, when she incited her sons against Sigismund, and provoked the Burgundian War, which led to Sigismund's deposition and imprisonment, and his assassination the following year. In 523, the Kingdom of the Burgundians was invaded by the four Frankish kings, Chlodomer, Childebert I, Clotaire I and Theodebert I, children of Frankish king Clovis I and Sigismund's second cousins by Clotilde. Sigismund and his brother Godomar led the Burgundian defence but lost the battle. Godomar fled while Sigismund put on a monk's habit and hid in a cell near his abbey. He was captured by Chlodomer, king of Orléans, taken to Aurelianum (modern Orléans). Godomar then rallied the Burgundian army which regained his territory. Meanwhile, in 524, Chlodomer ordered the death of Sigismund, who was beheaded and thrown in a well.[3]

Sigismund was succeeded on the throne by Godomar.

In 535, Sigismund's remains were recovered from the well at Coulmiers and buried in the monastery at Agaune.[4] Eventually Sigismund was canonized. Correspondence has survived between Sigismund and Avitus, who was a poet and one of the last masters of the classical arts.

Veneration

In 1366, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, transferred Sigismund's relics to Prague,[5] hence he has become a patron saint of the Czech Republic.[citation needed]

The emperor gave the saint's name to one of his son, the later King Sigismund of Hungary (who also became decades later King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor). In 1424, Sigismund of Hungary constructed a church in the honor of Saint Sigismund in the City of Buda.[6] In 1424 King Sigismund took the reliques of Saint Sigismund from Prague and sent them to the Hungarian city of Varad, so they could be protected from the Hussites.[7]

Family and Issue

He married in 494 Ostrogotha,[8] the illegitimate daughter of Theoderic the Great and a concubine, as a part of Theoderic's negotiation for an alliance with Sigismund and the Burgundians. They had the following issue:

  • Sigeric (494/95 – 517), murdered by his own father.
  • Suavegotha (495/96 – ?) She was married to Theuderic I, son of Clovis I.
  • NN daughter.
Preceded by King of Burgundy
516–523 		Succeeded by

Notes

  1. ^ John Bagnell Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the death of Justianian, Vol. I, (Dover Publications, 1958), 463.
  2. ^ Perennial Prayer at Agaune, Barbara H. Rosewein, Monks and Nuns, Saints and Outcasts, ed. Lester K. Little, Sharon A. Farmer and Barbara H Rosenwein, (Cornell University Press, 2000), 39-40.
  3. ^ Gábor Klaniczay, Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe, (Cambridge University Press, 2000), 67.
  4. ^ Gábor Klaniczay, Holy Rulers and Blessed Princesses: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe, 67-68.
  5. ^ Don C Skemer, Binding Words: Textual amulets in the Middle Ages, (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2006), 254.
  6. ^ Raphael Patai, The” Jews of Hungary: History, Culture, Psychology, (Wayne State University Press, 1996), 74.
  7. ^ Sz. Jónás Ilona: Barbár királyok, Zsigmond. Kossuth Könyvkiadó, 1994.
  8. ^ Herwig Wolfram, History of the Goths, (University of California Press, 1988), 311.

References

External links

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