Introduction

Summary

Sidonius describes how his fellow citizens in the Auvergne regret the absence of Ecdicius, Sidonius’ brother-in-law. They hope for his help against Seronatus, a Gallic official and confidant of the Visigothic rex (‘king’) Euric. To describe his bad character, Sidonius employs etymological explanations and a comparison with the famous conspirator Catiline. Sidonius gives many examples to illustrate Seronatus’ tyrannical nature and shows how Seronatus does not behave in a manner suitable to the occasion and place. The letter ends with an urgent plea: Ecdicius should hasten his return and decide what to do next about Seronatus.

Addressee

Ecdicius, brother of Sidonius’ wife Papianilla (see the commentary on Ep. 2.2.3 nomen hoc praedio… and Ep. 2.12) and son of the late emperor Avitus, is the recipient of the prestigious first letter of the second book. He is not only a close relative, but also an important military ally, as described in this letter. In 471 Ecdicius raised an army of cavalry to drive Visigothic raiders away from Clermont; in Ep. 3.3.7 Sidonius panegyrically praises Ecdicius’ deeds. In 474 Ecdicius became commander in Gaul (magister militum) and was given the honorary title patricius by the emperor Iulius Nepos (see Ep. 5.16.1). In 475 he was summoned to Italy and replaced as head of the army (see Jord. Get. 240–1). Ecdicius is also the addressee of Ep. 3.3, in which Sidonius begs him to return to the Auvergne. As Giannotti (2016) 37 shows, the second and third books have several common addressees (including Felix in Ep. 2.3 and Donidius in Ep. 2.9). Ecdicius is mentioned in a private setting in Ep. 2.2.15 (Sidonius plays ball with his brother-in-law at his estate Avitacum, which he got from his wife's family – see the commentary on Ep. 2.2.3 Avitaci sumus) and in 5.16.1 (to Papianilla about Ecdicius’ honorary title). He counts among the individuals who are mentioned most often in Sidonius’ texts (five times); Mathisen (2020a) 41. According to Greg. Tur. Hist. Franc. 2.24, during a famine Ecdicius provided relief for 4,000 destitute people at his own expense. Gregory is very positive about Sidonius, and by extension Ecdicius, as he positions Sidonius as his own literary and historical exemplum of an ideal Arvernus.