Idatius

- from Chat GPT 4o, 2 June 2025
- summarized by ChatGPT version 4o
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