HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE MIDDLE AGES - Julian Emperor

CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHY: FOUNDATION TO MATURITY 139maturge, and a combination of these vocations. Sulpicius’s Life ofMartin fits into none of the univocal category of lives, whether ofbishops, monks, or ascetics. Such classificatory systems, while helpful,often require emendation, since vitae rarely belong to a singlecategory. For example, Paulinus’s Life of St. Ambrose, while focusingon his role as bishop, is filled with anecdotes of Ambrose’s supernaturalpowers, while there are no such anecdotes in Possidius’s Lifeof Augustine.Martin—as the ex-military, uneducated holy man from Pannoniawho settled in Tours, was consecrated bishop, founded a monasteryat Marmoutier, was an enemy of paganism, and a maker of miracles—wasa thorn in the flesh of the Gallic episcopacy. Their obviousdisapproval of Martin provided Sulpicius a model with whichto promote a more inclusive view of sanctity while serving as a sharpreminder to the bishops of Gaul that asceticism and service were anintegral part of their ministry. For example, Sulpicius’s depiction ofMartin’s nine years in the army show him reversing the role separatingsuperior from subordinate: “it was the master who performedthe services/dominus seruiebat”. 58 And despite his real difficulties withhis fellow bishops, Sulpicius’s Life of St. Martin did underscore thepotential for sanctity present in that of the clerical hierarchy, providedthey followed this model of humility and service.Martin’s military career, conversion while a soldier, and resignationfrom the service—despite Sulpicius’s efforts to minimize it—isnonetheless present in his metaphors and highlighted in his depictionof Martin’s refusal to remain a soldier. Martin’s decision toresign his commission and refuse the bonus for re-enlistment hasantecedents in the Acta martyrum, especially in such military lives asthe Martyrdom of St. Marinus, the Acts of Maximillian, the Acts of Marcellus,and the Martyrdom of Julius the Veteran. Martin makes his resignationto the Caesar Julian with a thundering affirmation that he is a soldierof Christ: “I have been your soldier up to now. Let me nowbe God’s. Let someone who is going to fight have your bonus. I amChrist’s soldier/Christi ego miles sum; I am not allowed to fight”. 59 Inthe anonymous Acts of Marcellus (ca. 298?), the Christian centurionMarcellus, questioned about his reason for refusing his commission by58Sulpicius Severus, Vie de saint Martin, 1:254.59Sulpicius Severus, Vie de saint Martin, 1:260.