Racho of Autun
Encyclopedia
Saint Racho of Autun (died c. 660) is venerated as a Roman Catholic
saint
. He was a bishop of Autun, with a feast day on 25 January. According to Pierre Bolle, the anhistorical Saint Roch is a hagiographic doublet of Saint Racho of Autun. A Cluniac priory, Saint-Racho-lès-Autun, under the protection of his name was established in southern Burgundy
during the first flush of the Cluniac reform movement during the tenure of Odilon of Cluny (994–1049). The commune of Saint-Racho, Saône-et-Loire owes its historical origins to the monastery
.
Racho holds a tenuous place in authentic history as the predecessor in the diocese
of Autun of Leodegar
, a fully historical figure who was the great opponent of Ebroin
— the mayor of the Palace of Neustria
— and the leader of the faction of Austrasia
n great nobles in the struggles for hegemony
over the waning Merovingian dynasty. His torture and death made him a martyr and saint of the Roman Catholic Church
, which embraced the cause of the Austrasian mayors of the palace, the Arnulfings, in the following century, anointed as the Carolingian
dynasty.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. He was a bishop of Autun, with a feast day on 25 January. According to Pierre Bolle, the anhistorical Saint Roch is a hagiographic doublet of Saint Racho of Autun. A Cluniac priory, Saint-Racho-lès-Autun, under the protection of his name was established in southern Burgundy
County of Burgundy
The Free County of Burgundy , was a medieval county , within the traditional province and modern French region Franche-Comté, whose very French name is still reminiscent of the unusual title of its count: Freigraf...
during the first flush of the Cluniac reform movement during the tenure of Odilon of Cluny (994–1049). The commune of Saint-Racho, Saône-et-Loire owes its historical origins to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
.
Racho holds a tenuous place in authentic history as the predecessor in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Autun of Leodegar
Leodegar
Saint Leodegar or Leger, Bishop of Autun , was the great opponent of Ebroin— the mayor of the Palace of Neustria— and the leader of the faction of Austrasian great nobles in the struggles for hegemony over the waning Merovingian dynasty...
, a fully historical figure who was the great opponent of Ebroin
Ebroin
Ebroin was the Frankish mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681...
— the mayor of the Palace of Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
— and the leader of the faction of Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
n great nobles in the struggles for hegemony
Hegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
over the waning Merovingian dynasty. His torture and death made him a martyr and saint of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, which embraced the cause of the Austrasian mayors of the palace, the Arnulfings, in the following century, anointed as the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
dynasty.