Galla (c.380 - c.420s) was a late Roman woman who was a correspondent of

Paulinus of Nola Paulinus of Nola (; la, Paulinus Nolanus; also Anglicized as Pauline of Nola; – 22 June 431) born Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus, was a Roman poet, writer, and senator who attained the ranks of suffect consul () and governor of Campan ...

, and wife of

Eucherius of Lyon Eucherius (c. 380c. 449) was a high-born and high-ranking ecclesiastic in the Christian church in Roman Gaul. He is remembered for his letters advocating extreme self-abnegation. From 439, he served as Archbishop of Lyon, and Henry Wace ranked h ...

Biography

Whilst little is known about the life of Galla, she is a significant late Roman woman since

addressed ''Epistola 51'' to her and her husband, making her one of the few late Roman women known by name. This letter is also one of the last known to be written by Paulinus. Galla was married to Eucherius, who became bishop of Lyons in 434. They had two sons: Veranus and

Salonius Salonius (c. 400 – 28 September 475) known as Salonius of Geneva was a confessor and bishop of the 5th century, A son of Eucherius of Lyon and Galla. He was educated at Lérins Abbey, first by Hilary of Arles, then by Salvianus and Vincent ...

, who were born c.400. According to some sources, they also had two daughters, Consortia and Tullia. Galla's date of birth is unknown, but it could have been c.380. After their sons were born, Eucherius suggested that they alter their way of life to become more holy, leading the family to become religious ascetics together.Antelmy, J. (1726). Assertio pro unico S. Eucherio Lugdunensi episcopo. Auctore Jos. Antelmio,... Opus posthumum. Accedit concilium Regiense sub Rostagno metrop. Aquensi, anni MCCLXXXV. Nunc primo prodit integrum, & Notis illustratum operâ Car. Antelmii: apud Ant. Claudium Briasson. https://books.google.com/books?id=qbpos2nJRMUC&dq=galla+eucherius&pg=PA149 Galla and Eucherius' marriage evolved to run on ascetic principles, like other 'marriages of friendship' undertaken by other religious figures such as Paulinus and

Therasia of Nola Therasia (fl. 381 - 408–10) was a Christian aristocrat from Spain. Through her marriage to Paulinus of Nola, she encouraged his conversion to Christianity and was influential in the early church, co-writing epistles and co-patron of the cult o ...

. The ''Vita Sanctae Consortiae'' tells us that their religious conversion involved intense isolation. In the 420s monks from Lérins visited Paulinus and told him how Eucherius, Galla and their sons were living an ascetic and secluded life in the monastery there. Both sons were later sent to visit Paulinus of Nola. The family practised "unwealth" - where life was restricted to the minimum in order to support prayer and devotion. After the death of Galla, Eucherius retired to Lerins. Since ''Epistola 51'' was written in either 421 to 426, we can assume Galla died some time after then in the 420s.

References

{{Authority control Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 4th-century Roman women 5th-century Roman women Latin letter writers Christian clerical marriage