He was evidently the senator and relative, Ferreolus, who was reported by Apollinaris of Valence in a letter to Avitus of Vienne to have visited him in around 520.
He was a relative of Parthenius who had served the Ostrogoths and was to become one of Theodoric of Austrasia's key civil officials.
The estates of the Ferreoli in the valley of the Gardon (Prusianum) were near the new borderline between the Franks and Visigoths after the Ostrogoths had ceased to administer Visigothic lands in southern Gaul and Ferreolus and his family ended up with the Franks as masters since the better part of their properties fell within the lands of the new Austrasian kingdom.
A new diocese, Arisitum, was created out of the Frankish parishes of the See of Nimes by Sigibert of Austrasia about 570 and the bishopric was given to Ferreolus' son, Deotarius.
Moreover, he and his family do not appear to have occupied the Episcopal See of Rodez though it is arguable some of these estates (Trevidos) may have been part of the diocese of Arisitum.