Secundus of Trent or Secundus of Non authored ''History of the Acts of the
Langobards
The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774.
The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the ''History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 and ...
'', up to 612.
Secundus is first mentioned in the letters of
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I ( la, Gregorius I; – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was the bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 to his death. He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregor ...
for January 596, at which time Secundus served archbishop Marinianus of then-Byzantine
Ravenna
Ravenna ( , , also ; rgn, Ravèna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 408 until its collapse in 476. It then served as the ca ...
as deacon. In that capacity the Pope wrote to Secundus for diplomatic relations between the Lombard king
Agilulf
Agilulf ( 555 – April 616), called ''the Thuringian'' and nicknamed ''Ago'', was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death.
A relative of his predecessor Authari, Agilulf was of Thuringian origin and belonged to the A ...
(590–616) and the Exarch.
Around 600, Secundus became an abbot and moved to Agilulf's court, where Gregory corresponded with him in 603. Secundus was godfather to prince
Adaloald
Adaloald (602–628) was the Lombard king of Italy from 616 to 626.
He was son and heir of King Agilulf and his Catholic queen Theodelinda. He was baptised shortly after his birth in 602; the abbot Secundus of Non (later historian) was his g ...
around that year.
Writings
Secundus is best known for his history of the Lombards (''Historiola''). ''"He seems to have known much about the early Lombard leaders, but very little about how and where the Lombards were settled in Italy."''
Paul Fouracre
/ref>
Paul the Deacon used the work for his ''Historia Langobardorum
The ''History of the Lombards'' or the ''History of the Langobards'' ( la, Historia Langobardorum) is the chief work by Paul the Deacon, written in the late 8th century. This incomplete history in six books was written after 787 and at any rate ...
'', especially concerning Trent and Agilulf's court.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Secundus of Trent
Exarchate of Ravenna
6th-century Italian writers
6th-century Latin writers
6th-century historians
6th-century Byzantine writers
7th-century Byzantine writers
7th-century Latin writers
7th-century historians
7th-century Italian writers