Source: Textual Edition (Life of St Boniface)Willibald.VitBonifatii

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Source Information
Author Willibald
Source Title Vita Bonifatii auctore Willibaldo
Date of composition By 768
Language Latin

Edition(s)

Editor Article or Book Title Journal or Pub.Loc. Date pp.
Go to Vitae sancti Bonifatii archiepiscopi Moguntini Levison, Wilhelm Vita Bonifatii auctore Willibaldo Hannover 1905; rept. 1977 1-55

Event/Transaction List

Factoid Type Source Reference Short Description
1 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  Prol. Willibald 5 says that he wrote the Life of St Boniface because he was urged by Lull 1 and Megingoz 1 at the request of Catholic and religious-minded men from Tuscia, Gaul, Germany, Britain and all the other countries where the fame and miracles of the martyr were known.
2 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  1 Boniface 5 conceived a desire to enter the service of God and began to think deeply on the advantages of the monastic life.
3 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  1 When Anonymous 296 fell sick, he suddenly changed his attitude and sent the boy (Boniface 5) under the care of trustworthy messengers (Anonymi 752) to the monastery of Exeter. There, Boniface 5 made known to Abbot Wulfheard 1 his desire to enter the monastic life.
4 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4 Following the outbreak of a rebellion, on the advice of the king (Ine 1) the heads of the churches summoned a council of the servants of God. They decided to send legates to Beorhtwald 6, fearing that they would be accused of presumption if they made any decision without the advice of the archbishop. They decided to send Boniface 5 to deliver their message.
5 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4 Ine 1 gave Boniface 5 some companions and sent him to Beorhtwald 6.
6 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4 Boniface 5 set his heart not on remaining in his native land but on travelling abroad.
7 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, pp. 15-16 Boniface 5 came to a place where there was a market for the buying and selling of merchandise.
8 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, p. 16 Boniface 5 asked permission of a shipmaster to go on board, and after paying his fare he sat sail and came to Dorsteb.
9 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, p. 16 A fierce quarrel broke out between Radbod 1 and Charles 1 Martel as a result of a hostile incursions by the pagans.
10 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, pp. 16-17 Boniface 5 and Radbod 1 met and spoke together.
11 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, pp. 17-18; 5, p. 18 Boniface 5 departed to his native land, taking several companions with him for the journey.
12 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 18 Winberht 1 lay aside the prison of his body and breathed his last sigh whilst the monks (Nursling 1) looked sadly on him.
13 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 19 The monks (Nursling 1) implored Boniface 5 to take upon himself the abbatial office, but he refused as he had already forsaken the comfort of his native land.
14 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 19 Boniface 5 prepared to go to Rome, provided with letters of introduction from Daniel 1 but he was detained by the needs of the brethren (Nursling 1), who, now bereft of a superior, opposed his departure.
15 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 20 Daniel 1 set Stephen 3 over the monastery of Nursling.
16 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, pp. 20-1 Boniface 5 finally departed. He first reached London (Lundenwich), embarked on a ship and arrived at Cuentwick. Then he and his companions (Anonymi 758) visited many churches, crossed the Alps and reached Rome.
17 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 21 Boniface 5 had audience with the Gregory 2, to whom he explained the reasons of his journey. The pope asked whether he had any letter of introduction, which Boniface 5 produced for him.
18 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, pp. 21-2, 25 Boniface 5 was sent to Germany to make a report on those peoples.
19 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 22 Boniface 5 gave Liutprand 1 gifts and tokens of piece. He was honourably received by the king and rested awhile.
20 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 22 Boniface 5 scaled the passes of the Alps, traversed the territories of the Bavarians and proceeded on his journey of inspection into Thuringia.
21 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 23 Following the instructions of Gregory 2, Boniface 5 spoke to the elders of the church (Anonymi 759) and the princes of the people (Anonymi 760) recalling them to the true way of knowledge. He preached the Gospel to turn their minds away from evil. He also reproved, admonished and instructed to the best of his ability the priests and the elders.
22 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 23 Boniface 5 went into Francia accompanied by his brethren (Anonymi 761).
23 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 23 Radbod 1 died.
24 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 23 Boniface 5 took ship and sailed up the river. He reached districts which had been left untouched by the preaching of the Gospel.
25 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 24 Willibrord 1 propagated the gospel with his fellow-missionaries (Anonymi 762)
26 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, pp. 24-6 Willibrord 1 decided to appoint an assistant and summoned Boniface 5, who refused such an appointment as he felt unworthy for it and had not reached the canonical age of 50
27 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  5, p. 26- 6, p. 26 Boniface 5 reached the place called Amanaburch.
28 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 26-7 Boniface 5 converted the rulers Dettic 1 and Deorulf 1 together with a great multitude of people.
29 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 27 Boniface 5 sent a letter to Gregory 2 in which he made him known all the matters which had been accomplished and the number of people who had been baptized.
30 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 27 Boniface 5 set out on his journey accompanied by a large retinue (Anonymi 764) and a number of his brethren (Anonymi 765).
31 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 28 After exchanging a few words of greeting, Gregory 2 asked Boniface 5 about his teaching, the creed and the tradition and beliefs of his church. Because of his difficulties with the Pope's spoken language, Boniface 5 asked for some time to write down his confession of faith. The Pope agreed and asked him to bring his written statement as quickly as possible.
32 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 28-9 Boniface 5 was invited once more to meet Gregory 2. When he was conducted within the Lateran Palace, he cast himself prostrate at the feet of the Pope, who quickly raised him from the ground. Gregory 2 admonished him to preserve at all times his faith and enquired how the pagan people had received his preaching.
33 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 29-30 Gregory 2 consecrated him to the episcopacy and gave him the name of Boniface 5
34 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 30 Gregory 2 wrote letters in which he placed Boniface 5 under the protection of Duke Charles 1 Martel
35 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 30 Boniface 5 came into the presence of Charles Martel 1 and was received by him with marks of reverence.
36 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 31 Many of the Hessians who had acknowledged the Catholic faith were confirmed. But others still refused to accept the teachings of the church. In their presence Boniface 5 attempted to cut down a certain oak of extraordinary size called by the pagans the Oak of Jupiter. He made a superficial cut and the oak burst asunder into four parts, each part having a trunk of equal length.
37 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 31-2 After taking counsel with the brethren (Anonymi 766), Boniface 5 built an oratory from the timber of the oak and dedicated it to St Peter.
38 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 32 Boniface 5 addressed the elders (Anonymi 759) and the chiefs (Anonymi 760) of the people, calling on them to return to the Christian religion that they had formerly embraced.
39 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 33 The devotion of the people to Christianity died out and false brethren were brought in to pervert the minds of the people. Torchtwine 1 was among the chiefs of the sect.
40 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 33-4 At first Boniface 5 suffered from extreme want but he continued to preach the Word of God. Little by little the number of believers increased, the preachers grew more numerous, church buildings were restored and the Word of God published far and wide.
41 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 33-4 Monks were grouped together in a monastery at Ohrdruf.
42 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 34 A large number of holy men (Anonymi 770 ) came to Boniface 5's aid. While some were in the province of Hesse, other scattered among the people of Thuringia
43 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 34-5 Anonymi 771 assured Gregory 3 of Boniface 5's devoted and humble submission to the Apostolic See.
44 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 35 Gregory 3 gave the archiepiscopal pallium to Boniface 5's messengers (Anonymi 771).
45 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 35 Boniface 5 founded two churches: one in Frizlar and the other in Amöneburg.
46 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 35 Boniface 5 founded two churches. One in Frizlar and the other in Amöneburg
47 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, pp. 35-6 Boniface 5 set out on a journey to Bavaria
48 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 36 Boniface 5 condemned and expelled Eremwulf 1.
49 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  6, p. 36 Boniface 5 went back to his diocese
50 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, p. 36 Boniface 5 set out on a journey to Rome for the third time
51 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, p.37 Many (Anonymi 784) flocked together to listen to his preaching. They were Franks, Bavarians and Saxons arriving from Britain and other provinces.
52 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, p. 37 After traversing Italy, Boniface 5 came to the walls of the city of Ticena. He rested a while with Liutprand 1.
53 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, pp. 37- Boniface 5 remained in Bavaria for some time preaching the Word of God. He banned those who destroyed the churches and perverted the people.
54 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, p. 38 Boniface 5 divided the province of Bavaria in four dioceses.
55 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  7, pp. 40-1 At the suggestion of Boniface 5 the establishment of the Christian religion was confirmed. Two heretics were ejected from the communion of the church.
56 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 41- All the bishops, priests, deacons and clerics (Anonymi 774) held four synodical councils.
57 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, p. 44 Boniface 5 decided to appoint a successor to his see, so that people would not be left without pastors. He promoted two men to the episcopate and divided between them the churches that were under his jurisdiction.
58 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, p. 45 Lull 1 was appointed to continue Boniface 5's instruction to the people. Boniface 5 consecrated him bishop
59 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, p. 46 Boniface 5 foretold to Lull 1 the approaching day of his death and the manner in which he would die.
60 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 46-8 Taking with him a few companions, Boniface 5 went on board a ship and sailed down the Rhine. He reached the country of Frisia where he visited the pagan population. He destroyed pagan worship by his preaching of the Gospel.
61 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, p. 47 Boniface 5 consecrated Eoba 2 in Utrecht
62 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 48-55 Boniface 5 took with him a number of personal followers (Anonymi 777) and pitched a camp on the banks of the river Bordne. Here he fixed a day on which he would confirm all the neophytes who had been recently baptized.But on the appointed day enemies (Anonymi 778) came instead of friends, armed with spears and shields. Boniface 5 called the clergy to his side, collected the relics of the saints that he always carried with him and came out of his tent. He reproved the attendants and forbade them to continue the conflict. Then, he addressed his clergy to give them courage. Then the frenzied mob of pagans rushed upon them and killed them.
63 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 50-2 Anonymi 778 stole the chests in which the books and relics were preserved, thinking that they had acquired a hoard of gold and silver. Then they went to the ships which were stocked with provisions for the feeding of the clergy. They got drunk with the wine and after some time they began to quarrel about the booty that they thought they had acquired. They divided into two fractions and many of them were slain. The survivors opened the chests and found the books. Because of their disappointment they threw the books into reedy marshes, hiding away others in widely different places.
64 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, p. 52 As the news of Boniface 5's death spread rapidly, a large avenging force (Anonymi 779) was gathered together and rushed to their neighbours' frontiers. The pagans (Anonymi 778) were slaughtered in great numbers.
65 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 52-3 The bodies of Boniface 5 and the other martyrs were brought by boat to Utrecht. There the bodies were interred until some religious men arrived from Mainz. They had been sent by Lull 1 to bring the body of Boniface 5 the monastery of Fulda. The praefectus of the city of Utrecht (Anonymous 297) declared that an edict issued by Pippin 2 forbade anyone to remove the body of Boniface 5. At that point a bell of the church, untouched by human hands, began to ring to warn everybody that the body should be given up.
66 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 53-4 When the body of Boniface 5 was taken from Utrecht to Mainz, there assembled together for the interment of Boniface 5 not only the envoys (Anonymi 780) who had brought the sacred body, but also many men and women (Anonymi 782) from distant districts, just as if they had been forewarned of the event.
67 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 54-5 The body was brought to the spot that Boniface 5 had decided upon during his lifetime. A new sarcophagus was made in the church and the body was laid in it with all the customary rites of burial.
68 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  8, pp. 54-5 The spot in which Boniface 5's body was buried became the scene of many healing miracles.
69 Event Willibald.VitBonifatii  9 A plan was drawn up to raise an enormous mound of earth on the spot where Boniface 5 had been killed because of the violent neap and spring tides that caused disturbances in the incoming and outcoming floods of water. On the mound they proposed to build a church and a monastery. When the mound had been raised the residents of the district began to discuss the difficulty of obtaining fresh water. Abba 3, director of the work in question inspected the mound with some attendants. The horse of one of the attendants suddenly trod upon the ground and rolled helplessly about. At once, on that very spot a fountain of water came bubbling up until it formed a considerable spring.
70 Transaction Willibald.VitBonifatii  4, p. 15 they gave Boniface 5 some money for his needs on the journey