Taius

Who was Taius?

Taius was a bishop of Zaragoza during the Visigothic period, from 651-664, succeeding his teacher Saint Braulius in this post. His surname was Samuel.

He was ordained as a priest in 632, and later served as an abbot.

At the request of Quiricus of Toledo, Taius compiled a collection of extracts from the work of Gregory the Great in 653–654, when progress on the compilation was slowed by the revolt of Froia and the invasion of the Basques. He traveled to Rome, where he was sent to procure the part of Gregory's Morales missing in Spain. He received this work from Pope Martin I. He worked as a compiler of others’ works, and in a letter to Eugene II of Toledo, he explained the plan of his writing and its relationship to Gregory’s model.

During Froia's siege, Taius had been working at a revision of the Lex Visigothorum, unable to leave the city.

Taius wrote what has been regarded as a “poorly organized” book called Liber Sententiarum, which drew heavily upon the writings of Gregory.

He participated in the Eighth Council of Toledo, the Ninth Council of Toledo and the Tenth Council of Toledo.