Autun

Autun , town (1990 pop. 19,422), Saône-et-Loire dept., E central France, on the Arroux River. It is an industrial center producing metals, machinery, leather, cloth, timber, and shale oil. An important market town in ancient times, Autun was a residence of the prefects of Gaul and was the seat of an important Gallic university. Between the 5th and 9th cent. Autun was often attacked by barbarians. Among the Roman ruins are the remains of the town wall, an amphitheater, and the 3d-century gates of SS. André and Arroux. The Hotel Rolen (15th cent.), with the 12th-century sculpture of Eve, is now a museum. The Cathedral of St. Lazare (12th cent.) is also famous for its medieval sculpture. The town has other museums as well as a bishop's palace.

Honorius ‘of Autun’ (early 12th cent.), popular theologian. The view that ‘Augustodunensis’, used by Honorius of himself, refers to Autun, has been abandoned, but no agreed alternative has been found. He probably lived for a time in England, later in S. Germany as a monk, perhaps a recluse. He was a prolific writer. Wide and lasting popularity were enjoyed by his Elucidarium, one of the earliest surveys of Christian doctrine, and by his Imago mundi, a compendium of cosmology and geography. He was not an original thinker.

Leodegar, Ledger, or Leger, St (c.616–678/9), Bp. of Autun from 663. He presided over a Council of Autun (date unknown) which recommended the use of the Rule of St Benedict in all monasteries of the diocese and insisted that the clergy should know the Athanasian Creed by heart. Though killed in a political struggle, he was soon regarded as a saint and martyr. Feast day, 2 (occasionally 3) Oct.