E06133: Seventeen authentic Merovingian royal diplomas survive from before 700 which record the gifts, confirmations and favourable rulings of Frankish kings for the monastery dedicated to *Dionysius (bishop and martyr of Paris, S00349) outside Paris (Saint-Denis), housing the relics of the saint alongside those of his companions Eleutherius and Rusticus. Written in Latin in Gaul, 584/625-694.

MGH, DD Mer. (excerpts)

22. Chlothar II confirms to Saint-Denis gifts in the will of the merchant Iohannes and his family (584/628, Étrépagny)
1. Ch]l[otharius rex F]ranc(orum) [viris in]l(lustre)bus Chr[o]deg[a]r[io
2. ]e sana [m]ente per basilicebus de suis propriis facultatebus [per] testamenti pagenam voluerit legaliter delegari, per n[ost]ris auctore[tate]bus testamentum
3. n]oster [Do]do abba de basileca s(an)c(t)i domni D[io]ninsio martheris, peculiares patroni nostri, testamenti pagenam a Iohanne quondam neguciante filius [Hi]d[ ]l[
4. aleq]uid d[e] suis facultatebus ad basileca ipsius s(an)c(t)i Dioninsio vel relequa loca s(an)c(t)a infra oppedum Parisiorum civetatis [...]

'Chlothar, king of the Franks, to his noble men Chrodegar... [further names, and part of the preamble to the charter are missing, losing the sense of what follows]... should wish to grant by law, with a sound mind, to churches from his own property by charter... [another lacuna]... our Dodo, abbot of the basilica of the holy lord Dionysius, martyr, our personal patron, a deed of Iohannes, a late merchant, son... [another lacuna]... something from his property to the basilica of this Saint Dionysius and the place of his holy relics, within the stronghold of the city of the Paris...'


28. Chlothar II confirms to Saint-Denis the gift of the vir inluster Dagobert within Paris (625, Étrépagny)
1. Chlothacha]rius rex Francorum [viris inlustrebus].
2. ampl]iatis titolis Ch(rist)o auspece credemus pertenere, si ea que cognoverimus partebus s(an)c(t)i domni Dioninsis peculiares patroni nostri
3. ] generaliter confirmamus adque stabeli dignetate durare iobemus. Ideo vir venerabelis pater noster Dodo abb(a) epistolam donaciones
4. relegen]dam, in qua tenetur insertum area, quod est infra murus Parisius civ[i]tatis, quem ex successionem genetore suo Baddone quondam
5. ad basileca s(an)]c(t)i domini Dioninsis martheris, ubi Dodo abb(a) deservire vedetur, nuscetur contulisse [...]

'Chlothar, king of the Franks, to his noble men... [parts of the preamble to the charter are missing, losing the sense of what follows]... we believe, with Christ's guidance, to retain with confirmatory deeds, if those things which we recognise as the portion of the holy lord Dionysius, our personal patron... [another lacuna]... we generally confirm and order to remain in steadfast dignity. For that reason, that venerable man, our father Abbot Dodo, a deed of gift [i.e. of Dagobert, named later in the charter]... [another lacuna]... concerning a plot of land, which is within the walls of the city of Paris inherited from his father, the late Baddo, known to have been granted to the basilica of the holy lord Dionysius, martyr, where Abbot Dodo is seen to serve...'


41. Dagobert I confirms the villa Ursines to Saint-Denis (632/3)
1. Dagobercthu[s r[ex] Francor(um) viris inlustribus Uuandel[bertho] du[ci], Gaganrico dom(estico) et omnibus agentibu[s praes]entib[u]s et futuris. [Optabilem esse oportet de transitoria promerere aeterna vel de caduca
2. substantia] erog[andum] l[o]crari [g]audia [s]emp[te]rna. Igetur n[os re ipsa consideran]tis [pro]ut [in aetern]um vel [a]lequantolum meremaur iustorum esse [consortes, vill]a cognomenante Iticina, setam in pago [Parisia]co, qui fuit Landeric[o et] Gan[g]nerico germanis et ad dicionebu[s
3. ... eam cum omni integritate vel meritum] ad beselaca d[o]mni Diunensi m[art]heris, pec[oli]aris p[a]tro[ni] nostri, ubi ipse p[ra]ec[iosus] d[omnus] in corpore req[u]iesc[er]e vede[tur] [...]
5. [...] pr[o regni stabel]etate vel r[em]ed[i]um animae nostra[e [...] pro intercesione antedicti domni Dyonisii martyris [...]

'Dagobert, king of the Franks, to his noble men Wandelbert, dux, Gaganric, domesticus, and all agentes, present and future. It ought to be desirable to acquire eternal things from those that are transitory, and to earn eternal delights through the distribution of one's worldly substance. Therefore we, thinking over this matter so that we might deserve to be among the small number of the just in eternity [have confirmed] the villa, known as Iticina, situated in the region of Paris, which was [granted] by the brothers Landeric and Gangeric into the authority... [part of the text is missing]... in its entirety and with all its value to the basilica of the lord Dionysius, martyr, our personal patron, where that precious lord is seen to rest in body... for the security of our realm and the remedy of our soul... for the intercession of the aforesaid lord Dionysius, martyr...'


72. Clovis II confirms a gift of King Dagobert I in Crouey-en-Thelle to Saint-Denis (639/42)
The manuscript of this diploma is highly damaged and no longer retains any reference to Dionysius.


74. Clovis II takes the abbot of Saint-Denis into his protection (639/50)
The manuscript of this diploma is similarly highly damaged and too fragmentary to be sensibly translated. Its first partially surviving line mentions '[of] the lord Dionysius, our personal patron' (domni Dioninsis p]eculi[ar]is [p]atroni n(ostr)i).


85. Clovis II confirms to Saint-Denis the privilege granted by Bishop Landeric of Paris on his request (654, Clichy)
1. Chlodouius rex Franc(orum) v. inl.
2. Oportit climenciae princepali inter [ci]teras peticiones illud, quae pro salute adscribetur vel pro timore divini nomenis postolatur, placabeli audito suscipere et ad effectum perducere, ut fiat in mercide coniunccio, dum pro quiet(e) servorum D(e)i vel congruencia locis venerabilebus inpertitur peticio. Igetur dum et omnipotens Pater, 'qui dixit de tenebris
3. lumen splendiscere', per incarnacionis mistirium unigeniti fili sui d(om)ni e n(ostr)i Ie(su)m Chr(ist)i vel inlustracionem Sp(iritu)s S(an)c(t)i inluxit in corda s(an)c(t)orum chr(ist)i[a]norum, pro cuius amore et desiderio inter citerus gloriosos triumphos marterum beatus Dionisius, Leutherius et Rustecus meruerunt palmam victuriae et coronam percipere gloriosam, ubi per multa tempora in eorum basileca, in qua requiescer[e vide]ntur,
4. non minema miracola Chr(istu)s per ipsos videtur operare, in quo eciam loco genetores nostri domnus Dagobercthus et domna Nanthechildis videntur requiescere, ut per intercessionem s(an)c(t)orum illorum in caelesti regno cum omnebus s(an)c(t)i[s] mereant particepari et vitam aeternam percipere, et quia ab ipsis principebus vel a citeris priscis regebus vel aeciam a Deo timentebus chr(ist)ianis hominebus ipse s(an)c(t)us locus
5. in rebus propter amorem D(e)i et vita aet[er]na videtur esse ditatus , et nostra integra devocio et peticio fuit, ut apostol(icus) vir Landericus Parisiaci aecl(esiae) ep(iscopu)s privilegio ad ipsum s(an)c(tu)m locum, abb(at)i vel fratrebus ibidem consistentebus facere vel confirmare pro quiite futura deberit , quo facilius congregacioni ipsi licerit pro [s]tabiletate regni n(ostr)i ad limena martirum [i]psorum iugeter exora[re] [...]

'Clovis, king of the Franks, to his noble men. It befits princely clemency to give a kindly hearing to (amongst others) those petitions which are drawn up for the purpose of salvation, or sought out of fear of the divine name, and to bring them to effect: so let there be a bestowal of riches, when the petition is granted for the peace or harmony of the servants of God in venerable places. For also the Almighty Father, 'who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness' through the mystery of the incarnation of his only-born son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, illuminated the hearts of the Christian saints, for the love and desire of Whom, amongst others, the glorious triumphs of the blessed martyrs Dionysius, Eleutherius and Rusticus merited them to take up the palm of victory and glorious crown; and for a long time in their basilica, in which they are seen to rest, Christ has been seen to work through them not a few miracles, and in that place also our parents, the lord Dagobert and lady Nanthild are seen to rest, so that through the intercession of those saints they shall earn their place in the celestial kingdom with all the saints, and partake in the eternal life. And so that holy place is seen to have been enriched with properties for the love of God and of the eternal life by those princes, and other former kings, and also by God-fearing Christians; and it has been our full devotion and petition, that the apostolic man Landeric, bishop of the church of Paris, might make and confirm a privilege to that holy place, for the abbot and the brothers residing there, by which the congregation might be allowed more easily to pray continually at the threshold of those martyrs for the security of our kingdom...'


88. A royal placitum (deed recording a dispute settlement) (of Chlothar III?), whereby a villa is divided between the church of Rouen and Saint-Denis (657/79)
The manuscript survives only fragmentarily. The monastery is only briefly described as the 'basilica of lord Dionysius' (basileca dom(n)i Dioninse).


93. A placitum of Chlothar III, whereby part of the villa of Thorigné is judged to belong to Saint-Denis (659/60)
The monastery is briefly described as 'the monastery of our personal patron, the lord Dionysius' (monasthirii pecul(iaris) patroni n(ostr)i dom(n)i Dioninse).


94. A placitum of Chlothar III, in favour of Saint-Denis concerning properties in Rennais and Vimeu (660/73)
The monastery is briefly described as the 'monastery... of the basilica of our lord Dionysius' (monasthirio [ ] ba[si]l(eci) n(ostr)i [domni Dioninsi).


95. A placitum of Chlothar III, in favour of Saint-Denis against the bishop of Le Mans (660/73)
The monastery is briefly described as 'the monastery of the lord Dionysius' (monasthirii dom(n)i Dioninse), and later, simply 'the holy lord Dionysius' (s(an)c[t]i dom(n)i Dioninse).