Letter 1049: Since we have undertaken, however undeserving, a place of government, it is our duty to succour our brethren in need, so far as our power extends. Januarius, then, our brother and fellow bishop of the metropolitan city of Caralis (Cagliari), has been here in the city of Rome, and informed us that the glorious magister militum, Theodorus, who is ...
Pope Gregory the Great→Honoratus, of Salona|c. 590 AD|gregory great
Book I, Letter 49
To Honoratus, Deacon [Gregory's representative in Constantinople].
Gregory to Honoratus.
Since we have taken on, however unworthily, this position of leadership, it is our duty to assist our fellow bishops in need as far as we can. Our brother and fellow bishop Januarius, of the metropolitan city of Cagliari [the chief city of Sardinia], has come to Rome and informed us that the distinguished magister militum [military commander] Theodorus, who has received the governorship of Sardinia, is doing many things there that contradict the orders of our most devout lords [the Emperor and Empress]. Those imperial orders had mercifully and gently removed many of the hardships suffered by landowners and citizens of the empire.
We therefore ask you, at a suitable time, to present the case to our most devout lords in accordance with the just and reasonable demands of the Sardinian provincials. On a previous occasion, imperial letters were sent to the distinguished Magister Militum Edancius, who served as duke of Sardinia during the seventh indiction [tax year], ordering these very grievances to be corrected. The intent was that their commands, issued from the generosity of their piety, should be observed by all future governors and not undermined by administrators -- so that people might live peacefully under the merciful rule of our lords, and for the fair governance they graciously grant their subjects, the Emperor and Empress might receive abundant reward at the coming of the eternal Judge.
Book I, Letter 49
To Honoratus, Deacon.
Gregory to Honoratus, etc.
Since we have undertaken, however undeserving, a place of government, it is our duty to succour our brethren in need, so far as our power extends. Januarius, then, our brother and fellow bishop of the metropolitan city of Caralis (Cagliari), has been here in the city of Rome, and informed us that the glorious magister militum, Theodorus, who is known to have received the dukedom of the island of Sardinia, is doing many things there contrary to the commands of our most pious lords, whereby with fitting clemency and gentleness they removed many hardships of proprietors, or of citizens of their empire. Wherefore we desire you at a suitable time to represent the case to our most pious lords in accordance with what the provincials of the aforesaid island justly and reasonably demand; seeing that on a previous occasion also their sacred imperial letters were sent to the glorious Magister militum Edancius, who was in the seventh indiction duke of Sardinia, in which they ordered all these present grievances to be redressed, to the end that their commands, proceeding from the bountifulness of their piety, might be observed unshaken by dukes who might come in course of time to be in power, and that the benefit thereof might not be squandered away by administrators; that so a quiet life might be led under the clement empire of our lords, and for the ordinance which with tranquil mind they grant to their subjects they might receive multiplied compensation at the coming of the eternal judge.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360201049.htm>.
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Book I, Letter 49
To Honoratus, Deacon [Gregory's representative in Constantinople].
Gregory to Honoratus.
Since we have taken on, however unworthily, this position of leadership, it is our duty to assist our fellow bishops in need as far as we can. Our brother and fellow bishop Januarius, of the metropolitan city of Cagliari [the chief city of Sardinia], has come to Rome and informed us that the distinguished magister militum [military commander] Theodorus, who has received the governorship of Sardinia, is doing many things there that contradict the orders of our most devout lords [the Emperor and Empress]. Those imperial orders had mercifully and gently removed many of the hardships suffered by landowners and citizens of the empire.
We therefore ask you, at a suitable time, to present the case to our most devout lords in accordance with the just and reasonable demands of the Sardinian provincials. On a previous occasion, imperial letters were sent to the distinguished Magister Militum Edancius, who served as duke of Sardinia during the seventh indiction [tax year], ordering these very grievances to be corrected. The intent was that their commands, issued from the generosity of their piety, should be observed by all future governors and not undermined by administrators -- so that people might live peacefully under the merciful rule of our lords, and for the fair governance they graciously grant their subjects, the Emperor and Empress might receive abundant reward at the coming of the eternal Judge.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.