Medieval History
The classic account of St Patrick?s life tells us that he was abducted from Western Britain in his teens and forced into slavery in Ireland for six years before escaping, during which time his faith developed.
However, a new article looking at Patrick?s own writings in their historical context argues that the saint may have in fact fled to Ireland deliberately to avoid becoming a ?Decurion? ? a Roman official responsible for tax collection.
?In the troubled era in which Patrick lived, which saw the demise and eventual collapse of Roman government in Britain in 410, discharging the obligations of a Decurion, especially tax-collecting, would not only have been difficult but also very risky,? says Dr Roy Flechner of the University of Cambridge.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
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Medieval History
Was St Patrick a slave-trading Roman official who fled to Ireland?
The classic account of St Patrick?s life tells us that he was abducted from Western Britain in his teens and forced into slavery in Ireland for six years before escaping, during which time his faith developed.
However, a new article looking at Patrick?s own writings in their historical context argues that the saint may have in fact fled to Ireland deliberately to avoid becoming a ?Decurion? ? a Roman official responsible for tax collection.
?In the troubled era in which Patrick lived, which saw the demise and eventual collapse of Roman government in Britain in 410, discharging the obligations of a Decurion, especially tax-collecting, would not only have been difficult but also very risky,? says Dr Roy Flechner of the University of Cambridge.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
- Medieval Furness: Texts And Contexts
Dr Fiona Edmonds writes: I am writing to tell you about the AHRC-funded project ?Hagiography at the Frontiers: Jocelin of Furness and Insular Politics? and the associated conference ?Medieval Furness: Texts and Contexts?, which will take place on 8th...
- Ireland: So What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?
The Roman General Agricola reportedly says he can take and hold Ireland with a single legion. Some archaeologists have claimed the Romans did campaign in Ireland, but most see no evidence for an invasion. Imperial Rome and this island on its far western...
- Scholars Examine Life And Writings Of Jocelin Of Furness
Jocelin of Furness was one of the most significant writers to emerge from England?s north-west during the Middle Ages, but historians have tended to overlook his work. Now a team of researchers are trying to increase awareness of his importance and what...
- St Patrick's Diet Similar To Today's Health Foods
Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, probably ate fare similar to today's pricey health foods such as cereal, fish and seaweed, according to a researcher who has studied the country's 5th century diet. Food historian Regina Sexton said...
- Alf O?brien: Medieval History Expert And Dedicated Socialist
Alf O?Brien, who has died aged 72, was a lecturer in the department of medieval history in University College Cork, a dedicated socialist and a leading authority on the life and times of medieval Ireland. He had a particular interest in the growth of...