E07740: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (2.7), describes how *Anianus (bishop of Orléans, ob. 454, S01206), miraculously protected Orléans (north-west Gaul) from the Huns in 451. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 2.7

Attela vero Chunorum rex a Mittense urbe egrediens, cum multas Galliarum civitates oppraemeret, Aurilianis adgreditur eamque maximo arietum inpulsu nititur expugnare. Erat autem eo tempore beatissimus Annianus in supradicta urbe episcopus, vir eximiae prudentiae ac laudabilis sanctitatis, cuius virtutum gesta nobiscum fideliter retenentur. Cumque inclusi populi suo pontefice, quid agerent, adclamarent, ille confisus in Deo, monet omnes in oratione prosterni et cum lacrimis praesentem semper in necessitatibus Domini auxilium inplorare. Denique his ut praeciperat depraecantibus, ait sacerdus: 'Aspicite de muro civitatis, si Dei miseratio iam succurrat'. Suspicabatur enim per Domini misericordiam Aetium advenire, ad quem et Arelate abierat prius suspectus futuri. Aspicientes autem de muro, niminem viderunt. Et ille: 'Orate' inquid, 'fideliter; Dominus enim liberavit vos hodie!' Orantibus autem illis, ait: 'Aspicite iterum!'. Et cum aspexissent, niminem viderunt qui ferret auxilium. Ait eis tertio: 'Si fideliter petitis, Dominus velociter adest'. Ad ille cum fletu et heiulatu magno Domini misericordiam inplorabant. Exactam quoque orationem, tertio iuxta senis imperium aspicientes de muro, viderunt a longe quasi nebolam de terra consurgere. Quod renuntiantes, ait sacerdus: 'Domini auxilium est'.

'Attila the King of the Huns marched forward from Metz and ravaged a great number of other cities in Gaul. He came to Orléans and did all he could to capture it by launching a fierce assault with his battering-rams. At that time the Bishop of Orléans was the saintly Anianus, a man of great wisdom and admirable holiness, the story of whose miracles has been faithfully handed down to us. The besieged inhabitants begged their Bishop to tell them what to do. Putting his trust in God, he advised them to prostrate themselves in prayer and with tears to implore the help of the Lord, which is always present in time of need. As they carried out his orders and prayed to the Almighty the Bishop said: "Keep a watch from the city wall, to see if God in his pity is sending us help." His hope was that, through God’s compassion, Aetius might be advancing, for Anianus had gone to interview that leader in Arles when he foresaw what was going to happen. They watched out from the wall, but they saw no one. "Pray in all faith," said Anianus, "for this day the Lord will deliver you." They continued their prayers. "Look out a second time," said the Bishop. They peered out, but they saw no one bringing help. The Bishop said a third time: "If you continue to pray in faith, God will come quickly." With much weeping and lamentation, they begged for God’s succour. When their prayer was finished, they were ordered by the old man to look out a third time. Far away they saw what looked like a cloud of dust rising from the ground. This they reported to the Bishop. "It is the help sent by God," said he.'

Aetius and his allies arrive and drive away the Huns. Gregory remarks:

Itaque liberatam obtentu beati antestites civitatem, Attilanem fugant.

'The city having been saved by the prayers of its saintly Bishop, they put Attila to flight.'

After narrating an incident in which a man at Rome has a miraculous vision concerning Aetius (E02022), Gregory describes the defeat of the Huns at the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields, concluding:

Nam nullus ambigat, Chunorum exercitum obtentu memorati antestites fuisse fugatum. Verum Aetius patritius cum Thorismodo victuriam obtinuit ...

'No one has any doubt that the army of the Huns was routed by the prayers of the Bishop about whom I have told you; but it was the patrician Aetius, with the help of Thorismund, who gained the victory ...'


Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 48-50. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 116-118, lightly modified.