Eraclus
Eraclus, alternatively Eraclius or Evraclus, was the 25th bishop of Liège (959–971).[1]
Eraclus | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Liège | |
| Diocese | Liège |
| See | Saint Lambert's Cathedral, Liège |
| Elected | 959 |
| Predecessor | Baldrick I |
| Successor | Notker of Liège |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 21 August 959 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 27–28 October 971 |
| Buried | Church of St Martin, Liège |
Life
Educated by Rathier, Eraclus served as dean of Bonn, before being elected bishop of Liège with the support of Bruno of Cologne. He was consecrated on 21 August 959. While bishop he founded two collegiate churches, St Paul's (which later became Liège Cathedral) and St Martin's. He had a particular devotion to Martin of Tours, attributing to that saint a healing he had experienced.
Eraclus placed strong emphasis on the importance of scholarship, laying the foundations for Liège becoming an international centre of learning.
In 968 he accompanied Emperor Otto I to Italy, and on 22 December rallied the emperor's panic-stricken army during an unexpected total solar eclipse.[2]
Eraclus died on 27 or 28 October 971 and was buried in the church of St Martin that he had founded.
He was succeeded by Notker, who would establish the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
Writings
- A letter to his teacher, Rathier
- An account of his healing by the intercession of St Martin of Tours
References
- Alphonse Le Roy, "Eracle", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 6 (Brussels, 1878), 616–620.
- Hubert Silvestre, "Eracle", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 44 (Brussels, 1985), 446–459.