Libo’s Secret

There’s no point in looking for Mr Libo’s treasure… it was discovered in 1985 and has been housed in Eauze Museum since 1995

But who was Mr Libo, the owner of the treasure?

In the year1014 ab urbs condita (“since the founding of Rome”, in other words, 261 A.D.), Libo and his family came to settle in Elusa where they owned some property. Their arrival did not go unnoticed by the people. In fact, Libo’s life-style made it obvious to everyone that this was a person of means. He wore a gold ring, and was therefore an aristocrat. Some people believed he came from the Trèves or Cologne region near the “limes” (“ the border” which defended the Empire from the barbarians). Some said he held a post in the imperial administration, that he was an important person.

In the city, one of the largest in Roman Aquitaine, Libo was able to enjoy the easy life aspired to by wealthy Romans. Elusa was a beautiful city with wide, straight roads, often lined with porticos, which afforded pedestrians shelter from inclement weather and passing chariots. The rich “domus” (grand town mansions) tried to compete with the public buildings adorned with marble and mosaics. Libo was able to visit the public baths every afternoon, to worship at the shrines of his chosen gods and to attend public spectacles… and yet, he was a worried man.

It must be said that recent events had no doubt forced Libo to keep his distance. It was not good to be associated with imperial circles at that time. Roman territories were under attack from all sides, and the embattled emperors followed one after the other in quick succession. The previous year, the “limes” (borders) had again been breached and the empire subjected to one of the biggest attacks by the Francs and Alamans ever experienced. General Postumus defeated the Francs who attacked Northern Gaul, and, crowned with this victory, had himself proclaimed Emperor by his own soldiers. In Cologne, he assassinated the Emporer Salonin, younger brother of the Emporer Gallien, who was powerless to prevent this event since he was himself engaged in fighting off the Alamans who had reached Italy.

The city of Elusa, a long way from these troubles, afforded Libo a safer haven. Nevertheless, it was now difficult to be sure which Emperor to serve. News arriving in the city was sometimes contradictory, each of the two emperors claiming for himself the allegiance of the city, and in the end, it was better to leave these problems to the provincial Governor. It was now the beginning of autumn, and for several days Libo seemed to have been up to something mysterious. He was busy, but with what, exactly?

In fact, overcome with worry, he was trying to hide a part of his fortune. He had already assembled his money. He had sorted and counted his silver coins, and divided them between four leather pouches for ease of transport. Even so, each bag contained nearly thirty kilos of coins! He added silver spoons engraved with his name, and some silver ingots. He then put in some items he was particularly attached to, such as a purse containing his collection of bronze coins, or a pair of knives with carved ivory handles – very valuable – depicting the cult of Bacchus, the god of wine, whom he worshipped. His wife entrusted him with her most valuable gold jewels encrusted with pearls and precious stones, and these he stowed away together with his gold rings and some “aurei” (gold coins) in a wooden chest. Under cover of night, Libo dug a deep, narrow trench and buried this treasure beneath the soil of Elusa.

Later, Libo and his family disappeared. In Elusa, no one would have been particularly surprised, and in these troubled times, no one would have bothered to find out more. Libo never revealed his secret, and his treasure slept for centuries under Elusan soil.

N.B. This story, based on true fact and clues from the Eauze Treasure, is no more than a hypothesis drawn from local events about which very little is known.

1. For the benefit of our readers in 2008 A.D.