CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS OF NIVEDUNUM,
AMANTIUS, LUCIUS, ALEXANDER, ANDREW, DONATUS, PEREGRINA.
A notice from the ancient Martyrologies.
Amantius, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
Lucius, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
Alexander, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
Andrew, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
Donatus, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
Peregrina, Martyr at Nivedunum (S.)
G. H. & D. P.
There is great diversity in assigning to these Martyrs the wrestling-ground of their contest, the old Martyrologies varying here wonderfully: yet the weightier ones conspire toward Nivedunum or Novedunum, to which I think we should adhere. One, which was copied by us in the Library of the Queen of Sweden at Rome, and was more highly esteemed by Lucas Holstenius, Names: offers these things to be read: At Nividunum, the natal day of the Saints Amantius, Lucius, Alexander, with three others, namely, Andrew, Donatus and Peregrina, named in the Epternacum manuscript, which is reckoned to be of S. Jerome. The same all are expressed in the Aachen manuscript. But in the Reichenau and Rheinau manuscripts are the names of Amantius, Lucius, Andrew, Donatus, Peregrinus: but there they are attributed to Africa. In which manner also it is thus read in Rabanus: In Africa, of SS. Amantius, Lucius. At Alexandria, of Andrew, Donatus and Peregrinus. Where, for the city of Alexandria, in place of Alexander the Martyr, it can be thought to be placed: and Africa in place of Nividunum, Nevedunum or Noviodunum, is set, taken from other Martyrs soon to be brought forward and crowned in Africa. The same things as Rabanus has Notker, but he attributes it to Noviodunum, and in place of Andrew has Alexander.
[2] In the Lucan copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology these things are had: At Nividunum, of Amantius, Lucius, Alexander, Donatus, Peregrus, the last syllable being omitted and the name of Andrew passed over. In the Corbie copy it is thus read: At Nevedunum, of Amantius, Lucius, Alexander, Alexandria, Donata, Wrestling-ground, Peregria: where the name Alexandria is written in place of Andrew; Donata, and Peregria, in place of Donatus and Peregrina. In the Gellone, Augsburg, S. Gall, and Paris manuscripts of Labbe are the names of Amantius, or Amatus, Lucius, Andrew; and they are attributed to Nividunum, or corruptly Nivendum; or even in the Gellone manuscript to Nicomedia. In Usuard these things are had: Of the city of Nivedunum, SS. Amantius and Alexander. Which are thus explained in the present Roman Martyrology: or Noviodunum in the Gauls, At Noviodunum in the Gauls, of the holy Martyrs Amantius, Alexander, and companions. In the old Martyrology of the monastery of S. Savinus de Levitania in the territory of Tarbes, in Saussay it is thus written: At Nividunum, the natal day of SS. Amantius, Lucius, and Alexander. The Cologne manuscript of S. Mary at the Steps, the wrestling-ground being omitted, expresses the names of SS. Amantius, Lucius and Donatus. The Brussels manuscript of S. Gudula names Amantius and Alexander alone, no place being added, and that on the following day, when the spurious Beda also relates Amantius, with Lucius and Alexandria added, for Alexander; likewise Donatus and Peregrinus, for Peregrina: which last two on the same day Galesinius also has.
[3] The same Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology formed this eulogy for them: At Noviodunum, or Nevers among the Aedui, the natal day of the holy Martyrs Amantius and Alexander, Lucius, Andrew and Peregrinus, who, declaring the proclamations of Christ with free voice, and by name among the Aedui? at last, after an excellent contest, with necks given up gloriously triumphed. These things there, which can be said of any Martyrs whatsoever, and added by conjecture, "with necks given up." But whence did Saussay know that Noviodunum among the Aedui is here understood, since no one joined that before him? There is in Julius Caesar both Noviodunum of the Suessiones, commonly Noviomum, vulgarly called Noyon; and Noviodunum of the Bituriges, vulgarly called Neuwy on the river Loire. Ferrarius in the Topography to the Martyrology does not dare to resolve to which place chiefly they can be assigned.
[4] or in Pannonia? We do not even dare to attribute them to Gaul, because neither among the ancients, nor among the more recent, Maurolycus and Galesinius, is it added that it is a place of the Gauls: but Noviodunum is nowhere written Nividunum, Nivedunum, Nevedunum, and in Maurolycus Niviodunum. Ptolemy in book 2 of the Geography, chapter 15, attributes to Upper Pannonia Νοουίδουνον, Novidunum, which agrees better and is read in Notker, and it was an Episcopal city. In the Notitia of the dignities of the Roman Empire, section 28, under the disposition of the Duke of Scythia, there were the first Constantinian soldiers at Noviodunum. Also in the Itinerary of Antoninus Augustus, Noviodunum is attributed to Scythia.
D. P.
[5] Yet do not here think of that Scythia which today we call Tartary. As now the Tartars, so of old the Scythians sent out their colonies, even across the Danube: or Pannonian Scythia. and so in the little book of the Roman Provinces, which is had published with the Itinerary of Antoninus, the 15th Province of the Illyrian Region is reckoned Scythia; and the 4th Province of the Thracian Region, Lower Scythia. But I have already noted on the 4th of this month, that those Martyrs who are simply ascribed to Nivedunum or Noviodunum more probably pertain to the Pannonias than to the Gauls; nor did we make much of the fact that Saussay ascribed SS. Zoticus, Attalus, Eutychius, who suffered there, not only to some Noviodunum in Gaul, but definitely to the Noviodunum of the Aedui. If, however, it were permitted to presume that some Passion of those of whom we have treated was anciently written, and adapted to the Patrons of the monastery of Caunes, there would also be had some not improbable argument for Gaul; namely, that in the place where Acts of whatever sort were preserved, in the same the Martyrdom was also consummated.