Saint Vidian
IN THE DIOCESE OF TOULOUSE (8th century).
Martyr
A nobleman from the House of Alençon in the 8th century, Vidian was a hostage of the Saracens in Galicia before becoming a Christian warlord under Charlemagne. After defeating the invaders near Angonia, he was wounded and beheaded by the enemy. His name remains linked to the town of Martres-Tolosane, where his triumph is commemorated every year.
Guided reading
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SAINT VIDIAN, MARTYR AT MARTRES,
IN THE DIOCESE OF TOULOUSE (8th century).
Origins and captivity
Vidian, son of Stacia and a nobleman of Alençon, gives himself up as a hostage in Galicia to free his father, who was a prisoner of the Saracens.
Vidian Vidian 8th-century martyr who fought against the Saracens. was descended, through his father, from the house of Alençon. His mot her wa Stacia Mother of Saint Vidian. s named Stacia. Vidian's father took up arms against the Saracens and was taken p risoner at Lucern Lucerna en Galice Place of captivity of Vidian's father in Galicia. a in Galicia. The king of those lands having consulted the oracles, they replied that this French captive had a child who would one day become the terror of the Saracens, and that he must be put to death. The prisoner was immediately offered his freedom, on the condition that he would give his son as a hostage. This proposal was accepted, and the child came to Lucerna to take his father's place.
Liberation and military exploits
Delivered by a merchant woman, he leads a punitive expedition in Galicia before joining Charlemagne and fighting the Saracens in Gascony.
A merchant woman from Lactora, in the land of the Vascons, having landed at Lucerna, delivered the young prisoner, who applied himself to trade with his liberator. Driven by the desire for vengeance against the Saracens, he gathered an army, marched straight to Lucerna, killed the king, and burned the city. After this glorious expedition, he retu rned to Fra Charlemagne Emperor of the Franks and uncle of Saint Folquin. nce to the court of Charlemagne and was showered with honors by this prince. Having learned that the Saracens had made a new incursion into Gascony, he went with his army to the banks of the G aronne Angonia Site of the martyrdom and tomb of Saint Vidian. river, near Angonia, and defeated them entirely in a field called the Campestres.
The Martyrdom
Wounded in battle, Vidian is beheaded by the Saracens near a fountain to which he leaves a miraculous virtue.
During this expedition, Sa int Vidian w saint Vidian 8th-century martyr who fought against the Saracens. ould sometimes go to rest in a forest where the sick have often experienced the power of his intercession. The eminence upon which the forest was situated was called the Knot of Saint Vidian. This young lord, having been mortally wounded by the Saracens, dragged himself to the edge of a fountain to wash his wounds there; but the infidels, having reached him, cut off his head. The Saint communicated a miraculous virtue to this fountain. His martyrdom was shared by a great number of companions.
Cult and traditions in Martres
His mother Stacia erected a tomb in Angonia, renamed Martres, where an annual reenactment celebrates his victory.
Stacia Stacia Mother of Saint Vidian. , mother of Saint Vidian, having learned of his martyrdom, came to Angonia, which then took the na Martres Site of the martyrdom and tomb of Saint Vidian. me of Martres (from martyribus), and had a superb tomb erected in his honor. This town has kept a touching memory of the victory won by the Christians over the infidels, and every year (on Trinity Sunday), it offers an exact and faithful representation of the triumph and the defeat, by dividing its brilliant youth into two camps, with the costumes and weapons of the era.
Relics and miracles
The saint's relics are shared between Martres and Saint-Ybars, attracting pilgrims to his fountain and his miraculous tomb.
Striking miracles have occurred at the tomb of Saint Vidian. The church of Martres still possesses the greater part of his relics today, which are displayed in a beautiful chapel dedicated to him; another part of his bones rests in the collegiate church of Saint-Ybars. The fountain o n the banks Saint-Ybars Location where a portion of the relics is preserved. of which he washed his wounds has become the destination of a pious pilgrimage. The cup in which, according to tradition, Saint Vidian re ceive coupe Cup used by the saint to receive the Eucharist. d the Holy Eucharist was also kept in Martres.
Source
The account is derived from the works of Abbé Salvan on the history of the Church of Toulouse.
Taken from the General History of the Church of Toulouse, by Abbé Salvan. M. l'abbé Salvan Author of the History of the Church of Toulouse.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Exchanged as a hostage for his father at Lucerna in Galicia
- Deliverance by a merchant woman of Lactora
- Military expedition against Lucerna and death of the Saracen king
- Stay at the court of Charlemagne
- Battle of Campestres against the Saracens in Gascony
- Beheaded near a fountain after being wounded
Miracles
- Miraculous virtue imparted to the fountain where he washed his wounds
- Healings obtained through his intercession in the Saint Vidian's Knot forest
- Striking miracles performed at his tomb