Where was Saint Patrick actually born?

TabbyTom

St Patrick himself, in his autobiography (the “Confessio”) apparently says that “the town of his father” (probably his own birthplace) was Bannavem Taburniae. Where this place was nobody seems to know: it’s generally assumed to have been in the west of Roman Britain, but guesses range from Dunbartonshire in the south-west of Scotland down to Devon in the south-west of England. Googling on the words “Bannavem Taburniae” will give you a wide range of possibilities to choose from. Mar 18 06, 5:44 AM

angie37

Patrick was a Briton who when 16 was captured and brought to Ireland as a slave (ca. 405), escaped after about 6 years of forced service to a local Irish warlord named Miliucc, returned to his family in Britain, eventually studied for the priesthood in Gaul (France), was ordained as a priest--and then returned to Ireland as its new Bishop (ca. 432), established himself at Ard Macha (Armagh), and proceeded from there to convert Ireland to Christianity, Catholic Christianity. Mar 18 06, 5:59 AM

gfmk23

We were always told in Natoinal School that St Patrick was Welsh, suppose this would accurately tally with Toms answer Mar 18 06, 4:39 PM

davejacobs

My Encyc Britt agrees that Patrick was born in Bannavem, nowadays thought to be an alternative name for Bannavern. It may be the place described below, but some authorities place it in Wales, In Banwen, Glamorganshire. All in all, one wishes he had had more consideration for furure trivialists and been more precise about his birthplace. < Bannaventa was a small defended Roman settlement in England upon the Watling Street Roman road (now known as the A5). It is located in present day Northamptonshire roughly two miles (3 km) east of the town of Daventry. The settlement was enclosed by a defensive ditch and wall, and probably served as a Mutatio (relay station) where horses could be changed for travellers upon the Roman road. The site was discovered and excavated in the 1970s. The enclosed area covered some 13.5 acres (55,000 m˛) and probably contained wooden buildings. It is possible that Bannaventa was the birthplace of Saint Patrick the patron saint of Ireland. In his confessio he said that he had been born in a settlement in England called banavem taburniae which could possibly be an alternative name for Bannaventa.> Tabbytom says it all, and if he/she's actually read the Comfessio in the original Latin I take my hat off to him/her. Mar 18 06, 4:41 PM

TabbyTom

I’m relying purely on secondary sources for the contents of the “Confessio.” Dare I say it? – as an Englishman with Cornish antecedents I’m not really interested in St Patrick at all. Mar 18 06, 5:13 PM

JoshCaleb12

Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity, yes... but to say "Catholic Christianity" is a bit of an overstatement, since there was ONLY the universal church at the time... In fact, there were conflicts between Irish Christianity and Roman Christianity... These conflicts form much of the interesting background of the Sister Fidelma mysteries by Peter Tremayne who set the stories the mid-600's A. D. Mar 19 06, 10:54 AM

lanfranco

Josh, as you seem to be suggesting -- but then backtracking on -- there was no "Catholic Christianity" or "Universal Church" in the 4th-5th centuries C.E. Christianity then was still widely various, especially in the British Isles, but also all over Europe, despite Rome's efforts. Pelagianism in Britain wasn't stomped on until the Synod of Whitby in the 7th century, and even then the Celtic Church remained "sui generis." As it did in some other places as well. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0811064.html Mar 19 06, 8:06 PM

kevinom

wales In ireland we were told that he was born in "An bhreatan beag" which is wales. whereever in wales it seems to be within 60 miles of the coast as he walked to the coast to go to sea. where he was smuggled into ireland as a sheep herder. This is the story as we are thought it in school. so in reality it could be different Mar 21 06, 8:42 AM

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St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in either England or Wales. St. George, the patron saint of England, was I believe born in Turkey. Where were the patron saints of Wales - David, and Scotland - Andrew, born? Why do we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day? As I recovered from a St. Patrick's night music session, I wondered if the US has a patron saint, and if so who? Where does the shamrock come from for St. Patrick's Day?

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