SIAGRIO, saint. — The time and place of his birth, as well as his life before being elected bishop of Autun in 561, are unknown. He died around 599.
Enterprising and zealous for ecclesiastical discipline, he exercised great influence at the Merovingian court, especially over King Gontran and Queen Brunhilde; and S. used it to benefit the poor and the persecuted. He took part in the Councils of Lyons (570), Paris (573), Lyons (581), and Mâcon (581 and 585), always being foremost in promoting the good of the Church. He embellished his cathedral and founded a hospital and two monasteries. St. Gregory the Great entrusted him with several assignments, commended to him the monk Augustine, who was going to England, and granted him the use of the pallium. Venantius Fortunatus sent him an acrostic of his own on the Redeemer.
In the Roman Martyrology he is commemorated on 27 August, but it seems that this date recalls the day of his episcopal consecration, since his death occurred on 2 September.