Raymond Nonnatus

Life events

1. born — 1204

   Tradition holds that Raymond was delivered by post-mortem caesarean section after his mother died in labour — hence the epithet "non natus" (not born). The earliest sources for this detail are 14th-century Mercedarian hagiographies.

2. tonsured

   Entered the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (Mercedarians), founded by Peter Nolasco for the ransom of Christian captives held by the Moors.

3. other

   Worked as a redeemer of captives in North Africa with Mercedarian ransoming spanning both Tunis and Algiers; reportedly offering himself as hostage in Tunis and enduring imprisonment in which his lips were pierced with an iron padlock to prevent his preaching.

4. died — 1240

   Died at Cardona in Catalonia on August 31, 1240, while travelling toward Barcelona at the summons of Pope Gregory IX, who had named him cardinal.

Relationships