St Patrick's Origin and Captivity

Much debate surrounds St. Patrick's date of birth, some historians believe it to be to towards the end of the fourth century approximately 389AD, other historians believe this date to be inaccurate and place his date of birth later at around 415AD.

It is thought that Patrick was born in "Bannaverm Tabemae" in Roman Britain - some doubt surrounds the exact place name due to the number of copying and recopying of the Confessio went through, there have been some errors and omissions in text. It is thought that the place name "Bannavm Tabemae" is one of these, Professor Charles Thomas translates it to be 'Banna Vanta Bermae.' There can be no certainty about the location of St. Patrick's birth, however there is a high probability that Patrick's home was somewhere in the western parts of Britain, open to Irish raids.

The Confessio gives details of Patrick's early life - his father Calpornius, was a decurion, a member of the provincial-Roman governing class, and was landlord of a small estate, he was also deacon of the church. Patrick's grandfather was a Priest called Potitus. Patrick's home is described as a moderately large Roman Villa. (However Professor Hanson feels that 'such an establishment could not be found so far north as the Clyde Estuary at that time and tends to think that it must have been quite far south in Britain.') Other Historians are off the option that Patrick was captured on the coastline of modern day Wales.

At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken into captivity when Irish raiders descended on the district around his fathers farm, he along with others were carried off into to Ireland where he would stay for many years as slave.

Patrick was sold as a slave to a chieftain named Milchu in Dalriada, a territory of the present county of Antrim in Ireland, where for six years he tended his master's flocks in the valley of the Braid and on the slopes of Slemish, near to Broushane and Ballymena.

It was during this time of desperation and hopelessness that moved him to seek God. 'His search was not in vain - for him, as with many others before and since, the darkest hour was just before dawn. Alone in Ireland, with no help but the Holy Spirit and his memory fo the gospel, he was enduringly converted.' [The Real Saint Patrick, J.M. Holmes, pg. 23] .