Austregisilus

Austregisilus, also known as Austregisile, Austrégisile, or Saint Outrille, was a bishop of Bourges during the Merovingian era in Gaul. He was born in Bourges of a noble family in the sixth century. As a young man he received his education at the court of King Guntram of Burgundy, a Frankish ruler of the later sixth century. Court service was a typical path for aristocrats of the period, yet Austregisilus eventually left secular life for the Church.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Aetherius, bishop of Lyons, and became abbot of the monastery associated with the church of Saint-Nizier in Lyons. In 612 he was elected bishop of Bourges, the city of his birth. His tenure as bishop coincided with the early seventh century, a time of continuing Christianization and monastic foundation in the Frankish kingdoms.

Hagiographical tradition links Austregisilus with Saint Amandus of Maastricht. According to the life of Amandus, the missionary saint spent years living as a hermit near Bourges under the spiritual authority of Austregisilus and was ordained by him. Austregisilus died in 624 after a dozen years as bishop.

Veneration of Austregisilus as a saint developed locally in the Berry region. His feast is kept on 20 May. The French commune of Saint-Outrille takes its name from him. Historical details of his life remain limited, as is common for many bishops of sixth- and seventh-century Gaul whose memory was preserved primarily through cult and later vitae rather than extensive contemporary archives.