To kilt or not to kilt: A St. Paddy's Day conundrum

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The source I read that in is Electricscotland.com It states he was born in Dumbarton, in the west of Scotland in about the year 372 of the Christian era. His Father Calpurnius it is supposed, came to Scotland in a civil capacity with the Roman troops. If you like you can read more on the Electricscotland website under the heading "History" then "Significant Scots" then "Patrick, Saint".

slainte

Mark

Mark,
I think ElectricScotland may have blown a fuse... the Patrick they mention (born in 372AD) would have been 122 years old when the historical St. Patrick died in 492. That's remarkably old, even by today's standards. Had the historical St. Patrick lived that long it would not have escaped mention in the Irish Annals.

It is likely that the contributor to ElectricScotland has confused the birth date of Palladius, also called Patrick, First Bishop of Ireland (who died according to the Annals in 461 at the ripe old age of 89) with the younger Romano-Britain Patrick who succeeded Palladius in his ministry and died (according to the Annals) in 492.

The time-line works like this (based on the Annals):

Palladius/Patrick arrives in Ireland in 432;
Patrick the Britain arrives in Ireland in 457;
Palladius/Patrick dies in Ireland in 461;
Patrick the Britain dies in Ireland in 492

Because Patrick the Britain was at least 22 years old when he arrived in Ireland (he was sixteen when sold into slavery and spent six years in Ireland before escaping) he would have been born no later than 435.

And where was Patrick the Britain from? According to the man himself he was from Bannevem Taburniae; his grandfather, Potitus, was a priest and Patrick the Britain's father, Calpornius, was a deacon and decurio (a member of the municipal council).

Nowhere in his CONFESSION does Patrick the Britain mention he wore a kilt...

[vespa]

Mark,
I think ElectricScotland may have blown a fuse... the Patrick they mention (born in 372AD) would have been 122 years old when the historical St. Patrick died in 492. That's remarkably old, even by today's standards. Had the historical St. Patrick lived that long it would not have escaped mention in the Irish Annals.

It is likely that the contributor to ElectricScotland has confused the birth date of Palladius, also called Patrick, First Bishop of Ireland (who died according to the Annals in 461 at the ripe old age of 89) with the younger Romano-Britain Patrick who succeeded Palladius in his ministry and died (according to the Annals) in 492.

The time-line works like this (based on the Annals):

Palladius/Patrick arrives in Ireland in 432;
Patrick the Britain arrives in Ireland in 457;
Palladius/Patrick dies in Ireland in 461;
Patrick the Britain dies in Ireland in 492

Because Patrick the Britain was at least 22 years old when he arrived in Ireland (he was sixteen when sold into slavery and spent six years in Ireland before escaping) he would have been born no later than 435.

And where was Patrick the Britain from? According to the man himself he was from Bannevem Taburniae; his grandfather, Potitus, was a priest and Patrick the Britain's father, Calpornius, was a deacon and decurio (a member of the municipal council).

Nowhere in his CONFESSION does Patrick the Britain mention he wore a kilt...

Wow!, thanx for your research and the info.

slainte

Mark

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Wow!, thanx for your research and the info.

slainte

Mark

You're welcome... I can't believe I actually did this. Must be a slow news night or something...

Scott

[Makeitstop]

You're welcome... I can't believe I actually did this. Must be a slow news night or something...

Scott

Tell me about it. They're still reporting that Brett Favre retired (like we haven't heard that one before)

Nowhere in his CONFESSION does Patrick the Britain mention he wore a kilt...

kilt, no. Green plastic leprechaun hat, yes. And a rubber chicken. Yeah, old st pat was always good for a laugh.

[PiobBear]

Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius[2], Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland...Patrick was born in Roman Britain ."

Actually a Roman citizen living in Britania.

There ya go...the only proper garb in which to celebrate St. Patrick's Day is a toga.

[auld argonian]

Toga party!

Toga! Toga!

Best

AA

[Nick the DSM]

LOL, Animal House!!

[Raphael]

A green Toga perhaps?

[Bugbear]

I always thought that depictions of pteruges, the Roman skirt armor, looked kilt-like over the tunic. They were just leather strips hanging from a belt, but in some costoom pteruges, they are a single piece with relief molded strips. However, pteruges would probably have been long out of use before the Romans were in Ireland... Might be an interesting variation to try on a box pleated kilt. Just make the pleats on the outside narrower than the inside part of the box pleat, so that it has a three D effect.

[PiobBear]

before the Romans were in Ireland...

I don't believe the Romans ever made it to Hibernia.