The poem is attributed to Stefanus m., either a teacher (magister) or monk (monachus), writing at the behest of King Cunincpert, who called the council and who is praised in the poem for re-building Modena.
He is known to have stopped in Francia at Samer, near Calais, and to have given money there for the foundation of a church, and is also recorded at the court of Cunincpert, king of the Lombards, in what is now northern Italy.
Soon after his assumption of the sole kingship, Cunincpert was ousted by Alahis, duke of Brescia (who had previously been duke of Trento).
Gated inside the choir, the church contains an ancient altar, inscribed with the names of Cunincpert, 7th-century king of the Lombards, and the steward of the bishop Gaudenziano Alchis, founder of the first temple dedicated to St. Giusto.