Tides of History Past Lives: Saint Patrick, Slavery, and the Fall of the Roman Empire
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Jan 26, 2026 A lively tour of a Romano-British teenager who became the famous Patrick, including his abduction and six years in slavery. Exploration of what Roman identity looked like in Britain and how cities and local traditions coexisted. A look at the collapse of Roman Britain, rising violence, and the wider practice of Irish slave-raiding. Discussion of how enslavement shaped Patrick’s faith and writings.
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Patricius' Enslavement And Escape
- Patricius was kidnapped from Britain and spent six years as a shepherd-slave in northwest Ireland before escaping.
- His captivity and spiritual conversion during that time set the stage for his return as a missionary to Ireland.
Rare Firsthand Account Of Enslavement
- St. Patrick left rare firsthand writings about being enslaved, offering unique primary evidence from Late Antiquity.
- His Confession and a letter survive and illuminate personal experience and church disputes of the era.
Patrick's Roman Identity
- Patrick was Roman in identity, educated in Latin, and identified as the son of a decurian, placing him in the Roman social order.
- His language and self-description show he considered himself Roman even at the empire's edge.
