Saint Hermengild
![[Saint Hermengild]](sainth17.jpg "39kb jpg detail from 'The Triumph of Hermengild', by Francisco de Herrera the Younger, 1622-1685, oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain; please do not write to ask about the image; for more information on the image, see the Web Gallery of Art")
- Memorial
- 13 April
- Profile
- Son of the Spanish Visigoth Arian king Levigild, and raised in Arianism.
In 579 he married the Catholic princess Indgund, who, with Saint Leander, bishop of Seville, converted him back to orthodox Christianity.
Immediately disinherited by his father.
Publicly renounced and fought against Arianism; he expected support from outside anti-Arian groups, but it never materialized, and he was defeated by his father's forces.
King of Seville.
At one point he reconciled with his father, but his step-mother, Goswintha, caused friction between them because of her staunch Arian views.
Arrested, tortured, and martyred on orders of his father for refusing to denounce Catholicism and refusing to accept communion from a heretic bishop.
- Died
- tortured and axed to death 13 April 585;
relics at Seville, Spain
- Canonized
- 1585
- Patronage
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against drought;
against flood;
against thunderstorms;
converts
- Representation
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young prince in armor being borne to heaven while contemplating the crucifix while around him angels carry an axe, chains, royal regalia, a palm, and a rose wreath and heretical bishops and king stand below him;
prince with an axe
- Additional Information
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Catholic Encyclopedia
New Catholic Dictionary
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