St Martin of Tours (c. 316-397). Martin was born in Hungary of pagan parents, he spent his childhood in Italy and lived most of his adult life in France. As the son of an official in the Roman army, he enrolled in the military at the age of 15. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. He found great difficulty reconciling his fait with his military service.
When he was stationed near Amiens, he met an almost naked beggar, trembling in the cold. Martin had nothing but his weapons and his clothes. He drew his sword, cut his cloak into two pieces, gave one to the beggar and wrapped himself in the other half. That night in a dream Martin saw Christ dressed in the half of the garment he had given away, and heard him say: "Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with this robe". He interpreted the dream as a calling and decided to get baptized.
At the age of 23 he refused a war bounty and said to his commander: "I have served you as a soldier, now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight". Martin asked to be relieved of his military duties and went to be a disciple of St Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-c. 367), Gallo-Roman doctor of the church (Pope Pius IX confirmed him as Universae Ecclesiae Doctor in 1851), who was bishop of Poitiers in south-west France. They traveled together throughtout Europe. In 360 a monastery, later named "Abbey of St. Martin of Ligugé", was founded by Martin.
In 371 Martin became bishop of Tours against his will. When trying to avoid being ordained bishop he had hidden in a goose pen, where he was betrayed by the cackling of the geese. St Martin's Day on November 11 is celebrated by eating geese as a revenge on the geese who had revealed his hiding place. Martin Luther was named after Martin of Tours.

Sulpicius Severus (c. 363-c. 425) was a Christian writer known for his chronicle of sacred history, and St Martin's disciple, friend, and biographer, he wrote "Vita Sancti Martini", before 397, ("The Life of Saint Martin" translated by the Rev. Alexander Roberts, 1894).