«Nec tu ignobilis Symeoni Anthiochino poteris conparare»: Vulfilaico, stilita longobardo

Aim of this paper is to reconstruct the story of the Lombard deacon Vulfilaicus, who establised himself on a column. The fact, which is contained in the Historia Francorum by Gregory of Tours, is a valuable case-study for the religious history of late antique Gaul and the building of different identities. Three are the reasons because stylite practice of Vulfilaicus has been condamned by Gallic bishops: first of all, he is ignobilis, therefore unwhorty to emulate Symeon (ethnic identity); he is a deacon, therefore unable to subvert the hierarchical order (religious identity); he is not allowed to show a spurious practice, that is neither clerical nor monastic, therefore to subvert the social relationships order (collective or social identity).