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Behind the episode

St. Martin: Why Every Chapel Is Named After His Cloak

The soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar became a monk, founded the first monastery in Gaul and became Bishop of Tours. He was the first person the Church venerated as a saint not as a martyr, but because of the life he lived.

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Life at a glance

  1. c. 316Born in Sabaria
    Today's Szombathely in Hungary. Martin grew up in Pavia, where his father had been posted as a military tribune.
  2. Aged 15A soldier against his will
    Martin had to join the Roman army. The famous scene at the city gate of Amiens dates from this time.
  3. Aged 18Baptism
    According to tradition, he left the army at Worms. Hilary of Poitiers, Doctor of the Church, became his teacher.
  4. c. 361The first monastery in Gaul
    In Ligugé near Poitiers, Martin founded a small community that became the first monastery in Gaul.
  5. 371Bishop of Tours
    The people of Tours proclaimed him bishop against his will. Outside the city gates he founded the monastery of Marmoutier.
  6. 386Protest in Trier
    Martin protested to Emperor Maximus against the first execution of a person for heresy.
  7. 8 November 397Death in Candes on the Loire
    Martin died on a pastoral journey. Three days later he was buried in Tours, mourned by great crowds.

History or legend?

We know Martin's life mainly from the biography written by his companion Sulpicius Severus (Vita Sancti Martini, around 397) while Martin was still alive. Some dates are approximate.

Early account

The shared cloak and the dream

At the city gate of Amiens, Martin shared his cloak with a freezing beggar. The following night, Sulpicius Severus tells us, he saw Christ in a dream, wearing the beggar's half of the cloak.

Later legend

Martin in the goose pen

That Martin hid in a goose pen is a later legend. The people of Tours proclaimed him bishop against his will.

Later legend

The emperor's half of the cloak

The interpretation that one half of the cloak belonged to the emperor is also a later legend.

Places

  • Sabaria (today Szombathely, Hungary)Birthplace
  • PaviaWhere Martin grew up
  • AmiensSharing the cloak at the city gate
  • WormsLeaving the army (according to tradition)
  • Ligugé near PoitiersThe first monastery in Gaul
  • ToursHis bishop's see and his grave
  • MarmoutierMartin's monastery outside Tours
  • TrierProtest to Emperor Maximus (386)
  • Candes on the LoireWhere he died
  • MainzMartin is patron of the diocese; the cathedral bears his name

Sources & further reading

Found a mistake? Let us know.

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