Martin of Tours and His Contacts with Pannonia

Abstract

Adopting the so-called long chronology of Martin’s life (316/317-397), this paper examines three episodes in the life and work of Martin of Tours. Depicting Martin’s youth in Sabaria, the first chapter describes the military milieu of Martin’s early life and the development of Christianity in Pannonia, and especially in Sabaria, during the reign of Emperor Constantine. The second chapter discusses Martin’s visit to Pannonia after his release from the army (357/358) and his clash with the Aryans, which throws light upon religious conflicts between members of the orthodox religion and the Aryans. It is impossible to establish an authentic identification of these Aryan adversaries. The image of Martin that is described in Sulpicius Severus’s book Vita s. Martini is congruent with historiographic data and with facts cited by polemic journalism of the second half of the 4th century. The last chapter discusses possible, yet unsubstantiated adoration of Martin in Pannonia in the 5th and the 6th centuries. Martin’s status of a bishop with a holy reputation is indicated primarily by the name and religious preference of Bishop Martin of Braga, himself born in Pannonia, who was a devout worshipper of Martin of Tours. The adoration of Martin of Tours spread after the Carolingians defeated the Avars at the end of the 8th century.