Tierwunder und göttliche Legitimation: Die Rolle von Pferd, Bär und Rabe in der Vita Columbani und ihre Bedeutung für das columbanische Mönchtum

Abstract This article examines the hagiography Vita Columbani, focusing on its protagonist, Columban the Younger, and the significant role of animals within the text. It specifically analyses the depictions of horses, the bear, and the raven in the first book of the Vita. These animal narratives are interpreted as affirming Columban’s divine authority and the legitimacy of his monastic legacy. The article argues that these wonders illustrate Columban’s power, surpassing earthly authority, and place him within a longstanding tradition of saintly miracles. Ultimately, the animal wonders serve to legitimise both Columban’s actions and Columbanian monasticism as a whole.