E06334: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 2.27) of 592, to Mauricius and Vitalianus, military commanders, refers to the help *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) will provide against the Lombards, around the time of his feast. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letteers 2.27


Gregory writes that Ariulf, Lombard duke of Spoleto, is threatening Rome, and encourages Mauricius and Vitalianus to attack him in the rear:

Sed et gloria uestra, si huc perexierit ipsa hostis, quomodo consueuistis, cum auxilio dei a dorso eius quod potestis perficite. Speramus enim in omnipotentis dei uirtutem et in ipsius beati Petri principis apostolorum, in cuius natale sanguina effundi desiderant, quia ipsum sibi contrarium sine mora inuenient.

‘But your Glory also, if the enemy himself should come out in this direction, achieve what you can in his rear, with God’s help, as has been your custom. For our hopes are in the strength of almighty God and in that of Saint Peter himself, the prince of apostles, on whose feast day [29 June] they long to shed blood; because they will without delay discover that Saint Peter himself is their adversary.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 1, 113-14. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 1, 209-10.