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Idatius (also spelled Hydatius) was a 5th-century bishop and chronicler from the Roman province of Gallaecia, corresponding to modern-day Galicia in Spain and northern Portugal. Born circa 400 CE in the vicinity of Civitas Lemica (present-day Xinzo de Limia, Spain), Idatius embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land during his youth, where he reportedly met St. Jerome in Bethlehem. Around 427 CE, he was consecrated as the bishop of Aquae Flaviae, now known as Chaves in Portugal.

Idatius is renowned for his Chronicle, a continuation of earlier works by Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome, covering events from 379 to 468 CE. His chronicle provides a contemporary account of the decline of Roman authority in Hispania, detailing invasions by various barbarian tribes, including the Suevi, Vandals, and Visigoths. Notably, Idatius's writings are characterized by a pessimistic tone, reflecting his belief in the imminent end of the world, influenced by apocalyptic interpretations prevalent during his time.

His Chronicle is a crucial primary source for understanding the political and social upheavals in the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. The work concludes abruptly in 468 CE, shortly before Idatius's presumed death. Burgess (1993) notes that Idatius used five major chronological systems (Jubilees, Spanish, Years of Abraham, Olympiads, and Regnal Years), there are variations between manuscripts, there are scribal errors, and there are chronological errors made by Idatius himself (e.g. with Olympiads).

Sources

Hydatius - Wikipedia

Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) - Hydatius of Lemica

Chronicon 1 (Idatius) - Latin Wikisource

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology - Idatius

Digital Latin Library - Idatius, Bishop of Chaves

WorldCat Entities - Idatius