From Sangallensis 190 to Canisius to Abbé Lespine

Manuscript Périgord 43, in the French National Library, is a volume of notes by Abbé Lespine (1757-1831) towards a Vitae sanctorum Petragorici; on f. 31 r., it contains a list of selected letters by Sidonius according to their addressees, most probably (following the order of the collection) Epp. 3.2, 3.8, 3.10, 4.21, 4.23, 4.25, 5.2, 5.4, 5.7, 5.15, 5.16, 6.12 [sic], 6.1, 6.4, 6.10, 7.1, 7.5, 7.13, 8.10, 8.12, 8.14, 9.7, 9.9 and 9.12. Lespine transcribed it, as he indicates, from Heinrich Canisius’ edition of MS Sankt Gallen 190 (see Manuscripts D105) in Antiquae lectiones, tomus V (Ingolstadt, 1604), pp. 455-56 — an edition which he also excerpted for Ruricius of Limoges and Desiderius of Cahors.

Are the ‘Blue Rocks’ Rio and Antirrio?

Early-modern and modern commentaries are typically found as part of editions of Sidonius’ work. There is, however, a separate manuscript series of notes towards a commentary on the Epithalamium for Ruricius and Hiberia (Carm. 10-11) by the French historiographer Étienne Baluze (1630-1718) in BNF Baluze 126. It is in several parts: ff. 172-194 on the Epithalamium (on its beginnning in particular here); ff. 195-199 quotations and various notes, possibly relating to the commentary; ff. 200-213 on de Praefatio. Interestingly, Baluze tries to solve the conundrum of the opening of the Epithalamium by interpreting Cyaneas … cautes as the capes of Rio and Antirrio, which delimit the Gulf of Corinth to the west.

Launching the Sidonius Commentary

On 23 February 2026, Radboud University will present the new commentary by Joop van Waarden on a selection of the letters of Sidonius. The work will appear in Cambridge University Press’s “Green and Yellow” series. The first copy will be presented to Professor Daniël den Hengst (emeritus, University of Amsterdam). Professor Gavin Kelly (University of Edinburgh) will provide an introduction, while Professor Giulia Marolla (Pegaso University) is to present a sample of her latest Sidonius research.

Venue: Huize Heyendael (“Het Kasteeltje”), Geert Grooteplein Noord 9, Nijmegen. Time: 4 – 6 p.m., including a reception. All welcome as long as there is room. Kindly RSVP to joop.vanwaarden@ru.nl. It will also be possible to join via Teams: registration at the same email address.