In
the year 584, King Chilperic of the Franks was assassinated, and the late
king’s treasurer, Eberulf, was accused of being involved in the murder.
Chilperic’s brother, King Guntram (r. 561-593), was convinced of Eberulf’s
guilt and sent troops with instructions to take him dead or alive. Hearing this
news, Eberulf fled to the city of Tours and sought sanctuary in Saint Martin’s
church, bringing him into contact with the city’s resident bishop and
historian, Gregory of Tours (c. 539-594). Gregory found the fugitive to be an
annoyingly rude and sacrilegious man, yet Eberulf was not the only disturbance
in the city—bounty hunters and warriors sent by King Guntram also arrived to
arrest (or at least contain) the fugitive, and while they stayed, they were not
very courteous in their interactions with the city folk.
Gregory
of Tours was a fan and admirer of King Guntram, but that did not stop the
bishop from detesting a band of warriors from Guntram’s base of power in
Orleans that arrived to keep Eberulf from leaving Tours. When these men arrived
in the city, they reportedly became more interested in extorting and pillaging
the locals than simply keeping an eye on the accused murderer. According to Bishop
Gregory, when this particular armed group from Orleans had served out their
guard-duty shift, “they set off home again, taking with them a vast amount of
loot, carrying off pack-animals, cattle and whatever they could lay their hands
on” (History of the Franks, VII.21). Of particular outrage to Gregory,
his own mules had been stolen by the looters. The bishop’s animals would
eventually be returned to their pasture, however, and Gregory of Tours happily
recorded the tale of how it occurred in his History of the Franks.
As
the story goes, the mule theft was carried out by two of the men from Orleans. Driving
a herd of mules can be thirsty work, and, as the two thieves were ushering the
animals away from the city, they decided to pick up a drink for the road. After
surveying their surroundings, the two mule-thieves picked out a house that was
sure to have a stockpile of fine beverages. With spears in hand, they pounded
on the door to the house, and when the startled inhabitant of the residence
appeared at the threshold, the thieves threatened him with their weapons,
demanding that the homeowner bring forth something for them to drink.
In
picking the house they did, the mule-thieves had horrible luck. The man who
came to the door owned a sword, and he apparently had a military background,
for he knew how to use his blade with deadly efficiency. Feeling threatened by
the demanding, spear-waving thieves, the homeowner decided to fight back and
protect his wine cellar. According to Gregory of Tours, “he drew his sword and
pierced them both. They fell to the ground and died on the spot. Saint Martin’s
beasts arrived home safe” (History of the Franks, VII.21). Gregory of
Tours did not elaborate on whether the freed mules found their own way back to
pasture, or if the sword-wielding hero did one last deed by helping them
return.
Written
by C. Keith Hansley
Picture
Attribution: (Image of a kneeling knight with a sword, by Stewart Watson (fl.
1843-1847), [Public Domain] via Creative Commons).
Sources:
- The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours, translated by Lewis Thorpe. New York: Penguin Classics, 1971.
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