Saint Martial of Limoges and the making of a saint

Claude Andrault-Schmitt (1)

1 CESCM [Poitiers] - Centre d'études supérieures de civilisation médiévale [UMR 7302]

The purpose of this paper is to comment on the case of St Martial in Limoges, an understanding of which should be refreshed by discussion arising from the recent archaeological campaigns. In 2019, it appears more clearly than ever that the church dedicated to the Saviour was only one of the buildings in a complex that demonstrated that this really was the burial site of the saint. While the Carolingian period seems decisive, various layouts were created between the 3rd and the 18th century, so forming a continuous Christian memory. A principle of accu mulation derived from legendary cults affected the funerary furniture and consequently the building sequence. This paper discusses the lost main church as both a building of the supposed 'Pilgrimage roads' as well as in its regional Romanesque context.

Mots clés: St Martial in Limoges; Middle Ages

Domaines: Histoire; Art et histoire de l'art

Claude Andrault-Schmitt. Saint Martial of Limoges and the making of a saint. Colloque international bisannuel : The Regional and Transregional in Romanesque Art and Architecture, British Archaeological Association, Apr 2018, Poitiers, France. pp.109-125. ⟨halshs-02885341⟩