Aurelian, the Roman emperor (270-275), passed through Sens and put all the Christians there to death, but as Englebert reported, "Alone, Columba found favour in his eyes, such was the nobility and the beauty of her features revealing her high origin". He wanted her to marry his son, but she refused, so he locked her up in a brothel in the town amphitheater. She was protected from harm by a female bear; Aurelian tried to burn both Columba and the bear alive, but the bear escaped and a "provincial rain put out the fire". Columba was condemned to death and beheaded, perhaps near a fountain named d'Azon. Her body was left on the ground after she was killed, but a man named Aubertus, who had prayed to her for the restoration of his sight, took care of her burial.