Lucius of Britain
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Saint Lucius was a legendary king of the Britons during the time of the Roman occupation of Britain as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of King Coilus and ruled in the manner of his father.
Most British legends tell of King Lucius becoming the first Christian in Britain. Around 180 AD, he requested from Pope Eleuterus to send missionaries to Britain to Christianize the people. Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People claims great success throughout south-western Britain. Eleuterus sent out Fuganus and Duvianus as missionaries and they converted St. Lucius after which they began to establish a Christian order throughout Britain.
Throughout his reign, the missionaries converted old temples to churches and catherdrals. Also diocleses were established among the people. York became the center for Albany and Deira, London became the center for Loegria and Cornwall, and the City of Legions was the center for Kambria. The missionaries returned to Rome, then subsequently returned to Britain with more aides in order to establish a full order on the isle. Lucius assisted by giving lands to the church and helping convert the people.
It is likely that St. Lucius became a missionary himself and may have travelled to Switzerland to preach to the Grissons. St. Lucius is said to have died in Gloucester in 156 AD, although sources differ on that date. It is possible that he left Britain in the hands of Severus while he missionized elsewhere. He left no heir, and thus a struggle began between the people of Britain and the power of Rome.
St. Lucius's feast day is on December 3rd and he was canonized through the pre-congregational method.
| Preceded by: Coilus | Mythical British Kings | Succeeded by: Interregnum of Severus |