The History of the Franks

Gregory of Tours was born in the year 538 or 539 in the city of Clermont-Ferrand. He came from an illustrious family in Gaul of senatorial rank, the highest class one could achieve in the Roman Empire. Gregory’s family could trace their ancestry back at least to Vettius Epagatus, a Christian martyr who was killed in 177. His family also had a long history of service to the government’s administration and the church. In fact, all but five of the bishops of Tours had been members of Gregory’s extended family (8). In Gregory’s immediate family, his brother Peter was a deacon and his niece, Justina, was a prioress.

In 573, Gregory of Tours was chosen as the 19^th bishop of Tours with the support of King Sigibert. The Cathedral of Tours had burned down when he came to office, so much of his time as bishop was spent rebuilding the cathedral. He reorganized and cleaned up his bishopric’s collection of relics, among many other administrative and liturgical tasks.

Other than History of the Franks, Gregory also wrote the Lives of the Fathers, a collection of biographies on saintly figures and church leaders in Gaul; On the Offices of the Church; A Commentary on the Psalms, and The Book of Miracles.