Solus was an 8th-century English monk and missionary who lived in Germany. Originally from southern England, he joined the Monastery of Fulda in 744, where Saint Boniface ordained him as a priest. He eventually established a hermitage and a small oratory near a Roman quarry in Solnhofen, Swabia. Known for his holiness, he received a land grant from Charlemagne, which he subsequently donated to Fulda Abbey. He died around 794 and is remembered as a saint within the Catholic tradition.
Life and mission
After settling in Swabia, Solus served as a missionary from his cell. His reputation for sanctity was such that during a journey through the region, Charlemagne granted him land to support his hermitage. This territory was later given to the Abbey of Fulda. He was buried near the northern wall of the church he had built at his site in Solnhofen.
Veneration and legacy
In 833, Gundram moved the remains of the saint to the northern aisle of a basilica, an act that led to his canonization. A biography written by Ermanrich of Ellwangen in the 9th century provided details of his life. Today, he serves as the patron saint of heavy laborers in the Diocese of Eichstätt and provides his name to the local Catholic church.