The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Paul of Narbonne

d. c. AD 290 (death unrecorded) · First bishop of Narbonne · Narbonne

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Paul of Narbonne was

Founding bishop of Narbonne among the seven Gregory of Tours records as sent into Gaul about the middle of the third century — the seed-bed of the churches of the Midi. Later Aquitanian legend, as with his fellows, promoted him to an apostolic-age disciple; Gregory's third-century notice is the sober original.

Verified single attestation

Within the horizon, silence; Gregory of Tours (c. 590), already cited, is the earliest witness.

Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.

Common questions

When did Paul die?

Paul of Narbonne is dated d. c. AD 290 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Paul in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Paul?

Paul of Narbonne is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Gregory of Tours. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Paul from?

The archive associates Paul of Narbonne with Narbonne.

Who were Paul’s contemporaries?

The archive links Paul of Narbonne to 3 other figures, including Denis of Paris, Trophimus of Arles and Martial of Limoges. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (1)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

History of the Franks I.30

c. AD 590
[First attested ~340 years later — Gregory of Tours, writing c. 594, is the earliest record of the mission he dates to the age of Decius.] At this time seven men were ordained as bishops and sent into the Gauls to preach… These bishops were sent: bishop Catianus to Tours; bishop Trophimus to Arles; bishop Paul to Narbonne; bishop Saturninus to Toulouse; bishop Dionisius to Paris; bishop Stremonius to Clermont; bishop Martial to Limoges.
Gregory of Tours · read ↗

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