This is the last of six installments describing the characters represented in the historic “at start” cards. Over the following weeks, I will describe each of the six cards that are shuffled into the deck at the beginning of the game, representing characters that rose to prominence after the initial group did their work in Ireland. However, in any game you can instead choose to change this, starting with whomever you would like, maybe even with Patrick and his initial cohorts shuffled into the deck.

---

Secundinus

Of the three men that the Irish Annals says Patrick brought with him, Secundinus may have been his closest companion. If one accepts that Secundinus and Auxilius were actual brothers, then he was also Patrick’s nephew, the son of his sister. But other traditions say he was the son of a nobleman, born in Italy, the heart of Roman society. Groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps high in the Latin hierarchy, he instead chose the clergy. By this tradition, he arrived in Ireland in 439 with Auxilius and Iserninus to help Patrick in his mission.

In Ireland, the Latin name Secundinus was changed to the Irish Seachnall, and he is known by both names today. He established a church at Dunshaughlin, near the ritual site of the high kings at Tara. If his noble background is correct, then this would have given him a great advantage in his discourses with the Irish leadership, including the high king.

But the greatest advantage that Secundinus and the other missionaries had with the leadership was writing. Literacy was highly valued by the political leadership, and they recognized this. They used it as a way to gain entry and trust with the existing hierarchy. Christianity brought reading and writing to Ireland, which in turn brought many advantages, including written laws, communication over long distances, and improved commerce- all a revelation to the kings of Ireland. Literature, history, poetry and philosophy would come later. 

Secundinus is credited with being the second bishop at Armagh, succeeding Patrick in that role. The third bishop there is said to have been Benignus, the son of a great chieftain, and an early Irish convert to Christianity. But again, recent scholarly investigations question this. Sucundinus may have gone to Ireland with Palladius, arriving before Patrick. The timeline may have been altered later, to bring more focus on Patrick, and thus more prominence to Armagh. But in any case, it is clear that Secundinus was an important member of the team that brought great changes to Ireland- changes that reverberate right up to this day.

---

Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Palladius

Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Patrick

Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Auxilius

Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Ciarán

Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Iserninus