Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Nicetius, archbp. of Trèves
Nicetius (3) (Nicet, Nicesse), St., 25th archbp. of Trèves,
c. 527–566. In his day the bishop was already beginning to pass into the baron,
and Nicetius was a territorial lord (Freeman, Augusta Treverorum, Histor. Essays,
3rd ser. p. 111). Our principal knowledge of him is from Gregory of Tours, who received
his information from St. Aredius, an abbat of Limoges, Nicetius's disciple (Vitae
Patrum, c. xvii.). At Trèves his position was a difficult one. The Franks around
him were little else than barbarians, rioting in licence, and scarcely more than
nominal converts to Christianity. Their respect Nicetius won by personal asceticism,
an inflexible temper and fearless demeanour in the face of the strong, activity
in good works, and uncompromising orthodoxy (ib.). He used excommunication
freely against princes and nobles in cases of oppression or flagrant immorality
(cf. Rettberg, Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands, i. 462–464). His orthodoxy
is illustrated by two extant letters: one from him to Clodosinda, the wife of Alboin
the Lombard, urging her to turn her husband to Catholicism; the other to the emperor
Justinian, whose lapse in his latter days into a form of Eutychianism, Nicetius
declares, is lamented by all Italy,
Africa, Spain, and Gaul (Patr. Lat. lxviii. 375–380; Hontheim,
ib. 47–51). Nicetius set himself to restore the churches which had suffered
in the storms of the previous generations and partly rebuilt the metropolitan church
of Trèves (Venant. Fort. Misc. iii. 11, Patr. Lat. lxxxviii. 134).
His alterations and additions are described by Wilmowsky, Der Dom der Trier,
pp. 37 sqq., and Freeman, ib. p. 113. For his own defence he built a castle
on a lofty hill overlooking the Mosel. The walls, with 30 towers, stretched down
to the river banks, and the bishop's hall, with marble columns, occupied the highest
point (Venant. Fort. iii. 12, Patr. Lat. ib. 135). It is the first recorded
building of a class which later was greatly multiplied, but its site is unknown
(Freeman, p. 112). For his architectural undertakings he summoned workmen from Italy
(Rufus, Ep. Hontheim, ib. p. 37). He died c. 566, and was buried
in the church of St. Maximin, where his tomb still is. Even in Gregory's time it
was famous for its miracles (de Glor. Conf. 94; Vitae Patr. xvii.;
Gall. Christ. xiii. 382). Nicetius also wrote two treatises called de
Vigiliis Servorum Dei and de Psalmodiae Bono, slight works of a didactic
character, to be found in the Patr. Lat. lxviii. 365–376, and, with the letters,
discussed at some length by Ceillier, xi. 203–206.
[S.A.B.]