E00058: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Cletus (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00048), tells how he suffered martyrdom, and was buried in Rome close to the body of Peter (the Apostle, S00036) on 26 April [AD 83/85].

Liber Pontificalis 3

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Cletus, natione Romanus, de regione Vico Patrici, patre Emeliano, sedit ann. XII m. I d. XI. Fuit autem temporibus Vespasiani et Titi [et initio] Domitiani [a] consulatu Vespasiano VII et Domitiano V usque ad Domitiano VIIII et Rufo consulibus. Martyrio coronatur ... Qui etiam sepultus est iuxta corpus beati Petri in Vaticanum VI k. mai.

'Cletus, born in Rome, from the region of Vicus Patricius, son of Aemilianus, held the see for 7 years 1 month 20 days. He was bishop in the time of Vespasian and Titus [and the beginning] of Domitian, from the 7th consulship of Vespasian [AD 76] and the 5th of Domitian [AD 77] to the 9th of Domitian and that of Rufus [AD 83]. He was crowned with martyrdom ... He was buried close to the body of the blessed Peter on the Vatican 6 days before the kalends of May [26 April].'


Second edition

Cletus, natione Romanus, de regione Victo Patricii, patre Aemiliano, sedit ann. XII, m. I d. XI. Fuit autem temporibus Vespasiani et Titi, a consolatu Vespasiano VII et Domitiano V usque ad Domitano VIIII et Rufo consulibus. Martyrio coronatur ... Qui etiam sepultus est iuxta corpus beati Petri, in Vaticanum, VI kal. mai.

'Cletus, born in Rome, from the region of Vicus Patricius, son of Aemilianus, held the see 12 years 1 month 11 days. He was bishop in the time of Vespasian and Titus from the 7th consulship of Vespasian [AD 76] and the 5th of Domitian [AD 77] to the 9th of Domitian and that of Rufus [AD 83]. He was crowned with martyrdom. ... He was buried close to the body of the blessed Peter on the Vatican 6 days before the kalends of May [26 April].'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 53 and 122. Translation: Davis 2010, 2, lightly modified.