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