Cerbonius

Cerbonius (; , Cerbonio; died 575 AD) was a bishop of Populonia during the Barbarian invasions. Pope Gregory I praises him in Book XI of his Dialogues.

Traditions and legends An alternate tradition made him a bishop of Massa Marittima around 544 AD, and devotion to the saint in this city arose after Massa Marittima became an episcopal center. After a storm at sea, they landed at Tuscany, where they lived as hermits. During the war raging currently in Italy between Byzantine and Gothic forces, Regulus was imprisoned and decapitated by the Goths after being accused of aiding the Byzantines.

Encounter with Totila For hiding several Roman soldiers, he was ordered to be killed by a wild bear by Totila, king of the Ostrogoths, during Totila's invasion of Tuscany. However, the bear remained petrified before Cerbonius. It stood on two legs and opened its jaws wide. Then, it fell back on its paws and licked the feet of Cerbonius. Totila exiled Cerbonius instead, to the island of Elba.

Around 575 AD, now old and sick, Cerbonius begged to be buried in Populonia. He asked, however, that those burying him should return immediately to Elba. His friends obeyed him. The ship carrying his body ran into a heavy storm, but arrived safely at Populonia. Cerbonius was buried and his followers returned quickly to Elba. Soon after, the Lombards seized Populonia; Cerbonius had foreseen this and had saved his friends.

Veneration The 13th century cathedral at Massa Marittima a Gothic sarcophagus (1324) which supposedly is the tomb of Saint Cerbonius, to whom the cathedral is dedicated.

At Baratti, there is a fountain and chapel dedicated to Saint Cerbonius. A local proverb states: Chi non beve a San Cerbone - è un ladro o un birbone ("Whoever does not drink from the fountain of Saint Cerbonius – is a thief or a rascal.").

There is another Saint Cerbonius who is venerated at Verona.