Amico e Amelio

Who they were

According to legend, Amelio and Amico were born remarkably alike in the time of Pepin, one the son of a count of the Auvergne, the other the son of a soldier from Berry; taken to Rome for baptism, they met and became friends in Lucca, then travelled on together to be baptised by the Pope, who named them Amelio and Amico and gave each a wooden cup adorned with gold and jewels.

After many adventures and trials, including Amico's affliction with leprosy, the two fought together as soldiers of Charlemagne against the Lombard king Desiderius, living penitent, Christian lives despite being warriors, and died side by side in the battle later called Mortara, in 773. They were buried in separate churches, but their coffins were found to have moved next to each other overnight, so the bishop had their bodies kept together in the church of Sant'Eusebio, where they still lie. Their feast is 12 October.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Legendary Carolingian soldier-companions said to have died together fighting for Charlemagne against the Lombards at Mortara in 773; feast 12 October.