293:
334:
30:
325:, with its inhabitants). A local legend tells that, during the siege of the city of Orléans by the Huns, the relief troops of the Roman general Ætius were late in arriving. Saint Aignan invoked heaven by throwing a handful of sand from the Loire from the top of the ramparts... Each grain turned into a wasp and a cloud of stings managed to put the barbarians to flight. Then Attila decided not to attack the city and to bypass it.
223:
649:
521:
493:
415:
He also has a church named after him in Saint-Agnan in
Moselle: the church of Saint-Agnan. A church of Saint-Aignan in Ruffey-sur-Seille (Jura), where he is represented by three large paintings (17th and 19th century). Another church of Saint-Aignan exists in the Atlantic Pyrenees at Ramous, as well
398:
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Saint Aignan Fair (17 November), also known as the Pig Fair, was held on the square still known as the Saint Aignan cloister, located alongside the current Saint Aignan collegiate church. In reality, this event dates back several centuries (it already existed in
381:
Aignan is honoured in the Roman
Martyrology, and the Paris Breviary. He is one of the patron saints of the city of Orléans, somewhat supplanted almost a thousand years later and in rather similar circumstances, by Joan of Arc. Saint Aignan will be chosen as protector of the city and the diocese of
206:'s hordes, who had avoided Paris. Though advanced in age, he helped the populace prepare to defend themselves and traveled to Arles to ask the Roman general Aetius to intervene. Aignan died about 453 at the age of ninety-five. His remains were buried in the church of Saint-Pierre-aux-BĹ“ufs, in
194:
As a young man, he retired to a hermitage he had built for himself near that city, to live a life of prayer and penance. He then went to Orléans to study under by Bishop
Euvertius. Under the direction of Euvertius, he prepared for the priesthood, and after ordination was appointed Abbot of the
300:
A text, exhibited in the collegiate church of Saint-Aignan in Orléans, based on sources from the 5th and 6th centuries states that faced with the lack of civil authorities, the old bishop Aignan organized the defense. During the siege he invited the inhabitants to pray to God to give them the
198:
Upon the death of
Euvertius, Aignan became bishop of Orléans. It was customary on the installation of the bishop for the city to release prisoners. Agrippinus, the governor of the city, refused to release them despite Bishop Aignan's request; but falling ill, immediately set them at liberty.
305:
where the Roman patrician Ætius lived in order to convince him to intervene with his legions. While the inhabitants were waiting to be massacred, the Roman vanguard arrived, and the Huns withdrew. It was the beginning of their retreat. They were pursued and defeated near Troyes at the
411:
in Paris, close to Notre-Dame
Cathedral. This construction is due to Étienne de Garlande, dean of the chapter of the collegiate church of Saint-Aignan in Orléans and chancellor of Louis VI the Fat. The remains of this site can still be seen in the walls of 19 rue des Ursins.
289:. However, the inhabitants of Aurelianum shut their gates against the advancing invaders, and Attila began to besiege the city. After four days of heavy rain, Attila began his final assault on 14 June, which was broken due to the approach of the Roman coalition.
374:, including a crypt containing the relics of Saint Aignan. This crypt, reworked in the 14th century, is one of the largest in France, but the sculpted capitals from the 11th century remain. In the 1070s, an anonymous monk of Saint-Aignan composed the
420:
dating from the 13th century. A church of Saint-Aignan, built on an ancient spring, also exists in Épeigné-les-Bois (Indre-et-Loire). The church of the commune of Lacquy (Landes) is dedicated to Saint Aignan since the 10th century. The painter
277:
describe him as one of the main architects of the defense of
Aurelianum (the former name of Orléans) against the Hun king Attila in 451 with the help of Ætius, a Roman general, whom he had first convinced to join the city.
399:
the 18th century) and was an important fair and festival. The tradition is to give children a gingerbread pig on which their name is written with a sugar line. It was coupled with the Tree Fair, which still exists.
190:
to a family probably of Roman origin, who had fled the control of the Arian Goths in their homeland of
Hungary. His brother Leonianus became an abbot, and is commemorated in the Gallican martyrology on 16 November.
635:
601:
321:
Saint Aignan contributed through prayer and his skill as a negotiator to save the city of Orléans, in 451, from total destruction by the Huns (who had just destroyed
382:
Orleans, in memory of his courage and his trust in God. Nowadays, many places in France bear his name, because he was considered a savior at the time.
210:. They were later moved to the Monastery of Saint Lawrence. Some were burned by the Huguenots in 1562, but the rest are in a carved wood shrine in the
700:
512:
371:
211:
292:
307:
695:
662:
281:
Attila's army had reached
Aurelianum (modern Orleans, France) before June. This siege is confirmed by the account of the
466:
710:
705:
658:
667:
436:, is considered to be the mother church of the future parishes of the city (Saint-Pierre 1148 and Notre-Dame 1164).
333:
313:
Every day, Aignan climbed to the top of a tower to scan the horizon and warn of a possible return of the Huns.
230:
Attila crossed the Rhine early in 451 with his followers and a large number of allies, sacking
Divodurum (now
363:, written in the middle of the century, the shrine of Anianus was comparable in importance to that of Saint
71:
195:
monastery of Saint
Laurence outside the city walls. Later he was promoted to coadjutor Bishop of Orléans.
359:
243:
75:
234:) on 7 April. His path can be traced through the hagiographies written to commemorate various bishops:
408:
270:
152:
690:
685:
235:
105:
342:
286:
183:
29:
429:
364:
259:
115:
452:
417:
168:
164:
144:
222:
679:
653:
525:
497:
484:
433:
422:
357:
dedicated to Anianus existed in the first half of the 7th century. According to the
160:
125:
82:
390:
Saint Aignan is represented in art as praying on the top of the walls of Orléans.
602:
Head, Thomas. "Saintly Patronage and Episcopal Authority at the Abbey of Micy",
226:
Roman villa in Gaul sacked by the hordes of Attila the Hun (Huns by Rochegrosse)
187:
370:
In the 11th century, King Robert II of France decided to build an abbey and an
648:
207:
354:
251:
577:
Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
34:
Saint Aignan (stained-glass window in the church of Saint-Aignan, Chartres)
346:
247:
513:
Butler, Alban. "Saint Anian, or Agnan, Bishop of Orleans, Confessor".
407:
A Saint-Aignan chapel was built in the 12th century, in 1116, on the
266:, is also credited with saving his city by meeting Attila in person.
263:
203:
156:
94:
652: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
637:
Hagiography and the Cult of Saints The Diocese of Orleans, 800-1200
604:
Hagiography and the Cult of Saints The Diocese of Orléans, 800–1200
575:
Loyen, André. "Le rôle de saint Aignan dans la défense d'Orléans",
349:
with a shrine to Anianus sometime before 587. Gregory calls it the
332:
302:
291:
255:
239:
524:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
496:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
322:
231:
432:, given by Count Guillaume de Nevers II in 1089 to the young
378:, a collection of stories of miracles performed by Anianus.
202:
Aignan is credited with doing much to save his city from
425:
realized in 1900 a fresco representing Saint Aignan.
182:
Aignan of Orléans (or Anianus) was born about 358 in
515:
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints
124:
114:
104:
91:
81:
67:
57:
44:
39:
20:
301:strength to resist. At the same time, he left for
238:was slaughtered before the altar of his church in
120:bishop praying on the top of the walls of Orléans
8:
518:1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 18 November 2013
566:Sidonius Apollinaris, vii.328-331, 339-341
17:
549:
547:
508:
506:
490:1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 20 July 2012
472:United Kingdom, J. Hodges., 1877. p. 378
462:
460:
221:
671:. London and New York: Frederick Warne.
607:Cambridge University Press, 1990, p. 21
579:, Année 1969, vol. 113, n° 1, pp. 64-74
480:
478:
445:
269:Several ancient sources, in particular
428:The parish church of Saint Aignan in
171:in 451. He is known as Saint Aignan.
7:
616:
167:in the defense of the city against
14:
647:
519:
491:
308:Battle of the Catalaunian Plains
296:Church of Saint-Aignan, Chartres
28:
212:Church of Saint Aignan, Orléans
100:Church of Saint Aignan, Orléans
485:Monks of Ramsgate. "Anianus".
1:
640:. Cambridge University Press.
48:
701:5th-century Christian saints
337:église Saint-Aignan, Orléans
285:and in the later account of
151:) (358–453), seventh
130:city and diocese of Orléans
727:
246:is alleged to have saved
27:
668:The Nuttall Encyclopædia
453:Catholic Online: Anianus
557:, Vol. II, Oxford, 1890
469:The Lives of the Saints
174:Feast day: 17 November
72:Eastern Orthodox Church
555:Italy and Her Invaders
467:Baring-Gould, Sabine.
376:Miracula sancti Aniani
351:basilica sancti Aniani
338:
297:
227:
148:
634:Head, Thomas (1990).
360:Chronicle of Fredegar
336:
295:
250:with his prayers, as
244:Servatius of Tongeren
225:
76:Roman Catholic Church
423:Ulpiano Checa y Sanz
271:Sidonius Apollinaris
711:5th-century Romans
706:Gallo-Roman saints
696:Bishops of Orléans
590:Historia Francorum
588:Gregory of Tours,
539:Historia Francorum
537:Gregory of Tours,
339:
298:
236:Nicasius of Rheims
228:
553:Hodgkin, Thomas.
254:is to have saved
153:Bishop of Orléans
134:
133:
68:Venerated in
40:Bishop of Orléans
718:
672:
651:
641:
620:
614:
608:
599:
593:
586:
580:
573:
567:
564:
558:
551:
542:
535:
529:
523:
522:
510:
501:
495:
494:
482:
473:
464:
455:
450:
434:abbey of Molesme
343:Gregory of Tours
287:Gregory of Tours
218:Siege of Orléans
97:
87:pre-congregation
50:
32:
18:
726:
725:
721:
720:
719:
717:
716:
715:
676:
675:
661:, ed. (1907). "
657:
644:
633:
629:
624:
623:
615:
611:
600:
596:
587:
583:
574:
570:
565:
561:
552:
545:
536:
532:
520:
511:
504:
492:
483:
476:
465:
458:
451:
447:
442:
430:Tonnerre, Yonne
405:
396:
388:
365:Martin of Tours
331:
319:
220:
180:
92:
74:
63:Orléans, France
62:
52:
35:
23:
12:
11:
5:
724:
722:
714:
713:
708:
703:
698:
693:
688:
678:
677:
674:
673:
643:
642:
630:
628:
625:
622:
621:
609:
594:
581:
568:
559:
543:
530:
502:
487:Book of Saints
474:
456:
444:
443:
441:
438:
409:Île de la Cité
404:
401:
395:
392:
387:
384:
345:, there was a
330:
327:
318:
315:
283:Vita S. Aniani
219:
216:
179:
176:
169:Attila the Hun
165:Flavius Aetius
132:
131:
128:
122:
121:
118:
112:
111:
108:
102:
101:
98:
89:
88:
85:
79:
78:
69:
65:
64:
59:
55:
54:
46:
42:
41:
37:
36:
33:
25:
24:
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
723:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
683:
681:
670:
669:
664:
660:
655:
654:public domain
650:
646:
645:
639:
638:
632:
631:
626:
619:, p. 16.
618:
613:
610:
606:
605:
598:
595:
591:
585:
582:
578:
572:
569:
563:
560:
556:
550:
548:
544:
540:
534:
531:
527:
526:public domain
517:
516:
509:
507:
503:
499:
498:public domain
489:
488:
481:
479:
475:
471:
470:
463:
461:
457:
454:
449:
446:
439:
437:
435:
431:
426:
424:
419:
413:
410:
402:
400:
393:
391:
385:
383:
379:
377:
373:
368:
366:
362:
361:
356:
352:
348:
344:
341:According to
335:
328:
326:
324:
316:
314:
311:
309:
304:
294:
290:
288:
284:
279:
276:
272:
267:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
224:
217:
215:
213:
209:
205:
200:
196:
192:
189:
185:
177:
175:
172:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
129:
127:
123:
119:
117:
113:
109:
107:
103:
99:
96:
90:
86:
84:
80:
77:
73:
70:
66:
60:
56:
53:Vienne, Isère
47:
43:
38:
31:
26:
22:Saint Aignan
19:
16:
666:
636:
612:
603:
597:
589:
584:
576:
571:
562:
554:
538:
533:
514:
486:
468:
448:
427:
414:
406:
397:
389:
380:
375:
372:abbey church
369:
358:
350:
340:
320:
312:
299:
282:
280:
274:
268:
262:, bishop of
229:
201:
197:
193:
181:
173:
140:
136:
135:
15:
659:Wood, James
418:Ivoy-le-Pré
386:Iconography
275:Vita Aniani
159:, assisted
110:17 November
691:453 deaths
686:358 births
680:Categories
627:References
329:Veneration
116:Attributes
617:Head 1990
440:Footnotes
355:monastery
323:Divodurum
252:Genevieve
126:Patronage
83:Canonized
347:basilica
273:and the
248:Tongeren
188:Dauphiné
163:general
656::
394:Customs
208:Orléans
186:in the
149:Anianus
663:Aignan
592:, 2.7.
541:, 2.6.
416:as at
403:Legacy
317:Legend
264:Troyes
204:Attila
184:Vienne
157:France
137:Aignan
95:shrine
93:Major
303:Arles
260:Lupus
256:Paris
240:Reims
161:Roman
145:Latin
141:Agnan
106:Feast
353:. A
232:Metz
178:Life
58:Died
45:Born
665:".
139:or
61:453
51:358
682::
546:^
505:^
477:^
459:^
367:.
310:.
258:.
242:;
214:.
155:,
147::
49:c.
528:.
500:.
143:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.