The Development of the Hagiography of Saint Servatius: From the 6th to 16th Century

Author

• David Krista, University of North AlabamaFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Dr. Burton

Second Advisor

Dr. Lowe

Third Advisor

Dr. Quiros

Abstract

This paper follows the development of the hagiography of St. Servatius from its foundation in the sixth century until the sixteenth century. In this analysis eight different hagiographical works on St. Servatius are discussed including a previously unstudied French Vie de Saint Servais produced in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. First, the foundational work which introduced St. Servatius to the world of hagiography by Gregory of Tours will be explored in order to understand who St. Servatius was. From here the paper moves onto the Latin vitae tradition which consists of the Vita Antiquissima, the Gesta Antiquiora, and Jocundus’ Vita sancti Servatii. In the twelfth century the hagiography of St. Servatius expanded into the Vernacular which will be represented by Heinrich von Veldeke’s Legend of Saint Servatius and the Upper German Life of Saint Servatius. Later,  in the fifteenth century, a chiro-xylographic pilgrimage book was produced in Maastricht in line with the septennial pilgrimage of St. Servatius. And lastly, the Middle French Vie de Saint Servais which was included in a manuscript collection of other saints’ lives and miracles. Each of these hagiographical works are a representation of certain stages in the development of the hagiography of St. Servatius. By looking at them as a whole an understanding of how the saint’s hagiography developed over time can be revealed, with the Vie de Saint Servais being situated at the end of this long process. This will be the first inclusion of this Vie de Saint Servais in the study of St. Servatius’ hagiography.

Recommended Citation

Krista, David, "The Development of the Hagiography of Saint Servatius: From the 6th to 16th Century" (2026). Theses. 57.
https://roar.una.edu/theses/57