Event #4260: A comet is seen

In the third year of Childebert’s reign in Burgundy, many signs were seen in the sky. A comet was seen¹. In that same year Childebert’s army fought bravely against the Warni², who had been trying to rise in rebellion. So many Warni fell in battle that few indeed of that people survived.

In these days, a comet appeared in the firmament. Now, concerning these stars which appear to come into existence, the philosophers have had recourse to meteorological causation, which Stagirites and Platonists have inscribed on Helicon¹ in the volumes of memory,² while astrologers and certain historiographers declare that they presage future troubles. But, after bestowing upon our delayed narrative a discussion of these matters, let us constrain our history to strike for its goal.

Another vision also given at the same hour under a different form was related to me – Adamnan – who was a young man at the time, by one of those who had seen it; and who solemnly assured me of its truth. He was a very old man, a servant of Christ, whose name may be called Ferreol, but in the Scotic tongue Ernene, of the race of Mocufirroide, who, as being himself a holy monk, is buried in the Ridge of Tomma (now Drumhome, county Donegal), amidst the remains of other monks of St. Columba, and awaits the resurrection with the saints; he said: ‘On that night when St. Columba, by a happy and blessed death, passed from earth to heaven, while I and others with me were engaged in fishing in the valley of the river Fend (the Finn, in Donegal) – which abounds in fish – we saw the whole vault of heaven become suddenly illuminated. Struck by the suddenness of the miracle, we raised our eyes and looked towards the east, when, lo! there appeared something like an immense pillar of fire, which seemed to us, as it ascended upwards at that midnight, to illuminate the whole earth like the summer sun at noon; and after that column penetrated the heavens darkness followed, as if the sun had just set. And not only did we, who were together in the same place, observe with intense surprise the brightness of this remarkable luminous pillar, but many other fishermen also, who were engaged in fishing here and there in different deep pools along the same river, were greatly terrified, as they afterwards related to us, by an appearance of the same kind.’ These three miraculous visions, then, which were seen at the very hour of our venerable patron’s departure, show clearly that the Lord hath conferred on him eternal honours.¹

In his reign¹ in the month of January a comet appeared morning and evening, and in that month the said bishop died, and the star receded.

595 January 9; China, Korea, Europe.

A broom star comet appeared in northern Aquarius. It reached northeastern Pisces. Korean records put the comet in Virgo.

Ho (236), P324

X/595 A1

The Chinese text Sui shu (636) says a “broom star” was seen on 595 January 9. It is said to have appeared at the Hsü [α Equulei and β Aquarii] and the Wei [ε and θ Pegasi, and α Aquarii], and to have reached the Khuei [β, δ, ε, ζ, η, μ, ν and π Andromedae, and σ, τ, υ, φ, χ, ψ, and 65 Piscium] and the Lou [α, β, and γ Arietis]. The date and location indicate an evening sky observation, implying a UT of January 9.4. J. Williams (1871) dated the Chinese observation as 594 November 10.

The Chronicle of Paekche, contained in the Korean text Samguk Sagi (1145), says a “broom star” appeared on January 9. It was seen at the Chio [α and ζ Virginis] and the Khang [ι, κ, λ, and φ Virginis].

The Roman historian Theophylact Simocatta finished writing Historia around 630. For the year 595 he wrote, “In these days, a comet appeared in the firmament. Now, concerning these stars which appear to come into existence, the philosophers have had recourse to meteorological causation, . . . while astrologers and certain historiographers declare that they presage future troubles.” This comet was mentioned just prior to the discussion of events that occurred in the spring of 595.

The French text Chronicle of Fredegar (642) simply notes that during 595, “In the third year of Childebert’s reign in Burgundy, many signs were seen in the sky. A comet was seen.”

Two Italian texts indicate the comet remained visible for about a month. The Historia Gentis Langobardorum (787) says, “in the following month of January, a comet appeared morning and evening through the whole month.” The Liber de Temporibus (1448) incorrectly dates the comet as 594 and says, “Comet seen in the sky for a month.”

Full Moon: January 2, January 31

Sources: Sui shu (636), p. 167; Chronicle of Fredegar (642), p. 11; Historia Gentis Langobardorum (787), p. 158; Samguk Sagi (1145), p. 167; Liber de Temporibus (1448), p. 60; A. G. Pingré (1783), pp. 325-6; J. Williams (1871), p. 38; Ho Peng Yoke (1962), p. 167; R. R. Newton (1972), p. 679. ; The History of Theophylact Simocatta, translated by Michael and Mary Whitby, Oxford: Clarendon Press (1986), book 7, section 6.