Donatus (d. after 658) was a bishop of Besançon, founder of the monastery Palatium (later Saint-Paul) in Besançon and author of a rule for nuns. He is venerated as a saint since the 11th century; his feast day is August 7.^[1]

Donatus was a Frankish aristocrat, son of Duke Waldelenus and his wife Flavia. His family belonged to the earliest supporters of the Irish monk Columbanus. He was baptized by Columbanus and entered the monastery of Luxeuil. Before 627 he became bishop of Besançon. He founded a monastery in Besançon dedicated to Saint Paul which received them name Palatium because it was built on the ruins of a palace. The monastery followed the Rule of Columbanus and later become a house of Augustinian Canons.

Most biographical information about Donatus is based on Jonas of Bobbio's Life of Columbanus.^[2] References to Donatus in other sources (acts of councils and charters) are listed in Duchesne's Fastes épiscopaux de l'ancienne Gaule, vol. 3.^[3]

Donatus' mother Flavia founded after the death of her husband a convent in Besançon, probably the monastery Jussa Moutier (Iussanum monasterium).^[4][5] Donatus wrote a monastic rule for this foundation in which he combined elements from the Rule of Benedict, the Rule of Caesarius of Arles and Columbanus' Rule.^[6]

The Rule of Donatus is the oldest witness for a textual reception of the Rule of Benedict.^[7] The text is preserved in Benedict of Aniane's Codex Regularum.^[8]