Obitius

Who was Obitius?

Saint Obitius was an Italian saint. He was born in Niardo, in the Brescia, around 1150. His father, Gratiadeus, was a knight and governor of Valcamonica. Obitius was devoted to Saint Margaret as a youth, and displayed an image of this virgin martyr and his armorial device.

His family had connections with the local religious community. An uncle had founded two monasteries and another relative had befriended Saint Constantius, the other patron saint of Niardo. Obitius nevertheless became a knight and married the countess Inglissenda Porro, with whom he had four children: Jacopo, Berta, Margherita, and Maffeo. Obitius had a successful military career as a knight, and participated in the wars between Cremona and Brescia.