Frankish Kingdom of Gaul Christianity in Roman Gaul • Many Christian communities existed in Roman era Gaul. • Lyons and Marseilles were early centers. • Lyons was the site of a notorious persecution in 177. • Irenaeus of Lyons was a Church Father. • Dozens of Roman- era saints: Victor of Marseilles, Gatian, Germanus of Auxurre, etc. . . www.Heritage-History.com
Missionaries and Martyrs Saints of Tours, Poitiers • During the 4th and 5th centuries, Tours was an • 250 Denis — Bishop of Paris who was important center of Christian civilization. martyred by the Druids because of his • 368 Hilary of Poitiers — Elected Bishop success in converting the Gauls to although he was not a priest. Produced important Christianity. Patron of France, headaches works of theology and resisted the Arian heresy. • 286 Crispin and Crispinian — Cobbler • 397 Martin of Tours — Soldier who gave up his brothers who fled to Gaul to avoid military career to become a Christian and bishop persecution, but headed by Diocletian. of Tours. Patron of France, subject of legends. Patron of cobblers, tanners. • 490 Perpetuus — Energetic and long reigning • 287 Quentin — Missionary to Gaul with bishop of Tours. Known for preaching and Saint Lucian. Performed miracles and building monasteries and churches. escaped prison before being recaptured Contemporary of Clovis I. and martyred. • 594 Gregory of Tours —Sixth century bishop • 290 Lucian of Beauvais — Missionary of Tours, then the capital of Gaul. He was a priest who traveled with St. Quentin in historian of the Merovingian era of France. One Northern France. Martyred during of the most important historians of the period. Diocletian Persecutions. .
FROM TOP: ST. QUENTIN, MANACLED AND TORTURED, CRISPIN FROM TOP: HILARY OF POITIERS, MARTIN GIVING HIS CLOCK TO AND CRISPINAIN, COBBLERS, ST. DENIS CARRYING HIS HEAD. A BEGGAR, GREGORY OF TOURS WRITING HISTORY OF FRANKS. e-History.com e-History.com Saints of Paris Franks-Merovingians • 250 Denis—Bishop of Paris who was martyred by the Druids because of his success in converting the Gauls to Christianity, (below) • Franks were Foederati. • 576 Germain—Bishop of Paris who converted King • German tribe from Rhine valley that Childebert I and built the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des- settled in northern Gaul. Pres. (lower left) • Clovis’s father united Franks within Gaul (~460) • 512 Genevieve—Mystic nun who prays are thought to have diverted the Huns away from Paris. Patron saint of • Clovis founds Merovingian Dynasty Paris. (upper left) – United all of Gaul at Soissons (486) (bottom) – Married Clotilde, Burgundian Princess (top) – Converted to Catholicism (496) – Clovis’s sister married Theodoric, King of Visigoths (493) • After Clovis, – Gaul became Catholic stronghold. – Dynastic wars weakened Merovingians – Charles Martel victory at Tours (732) – Merovingians deposed in 752, in favor of FROM TOP: EUSEBIUS OF VERCELLI WITH ST. SEBASTIAN AND ST. ROCH, PAULINUS OF NOLA, Carolingians. www.Heritage-History.com e-History.com BENEDICT AND SCHOLASTICA.
Conversion of Clovis Growth of Frankish Empire • The two most important people associated with the Conversion of Clovis are St. Clotilda, his Burgundian Catholic wife, and St. Remigius, Bishop of Reims, who converted and baptized him. • Many peasants and Romanized citizens in France were already Catholic but when the Frankish noble class became Catholic, the Church and monarchy both became much stronger. • The following saints are related to Merovingian kings. • 559 Leonard of Noblac — Frankish noble who converted to Christianity at the court of Clovis. Retired to a monastery and worked to obtain the release of prisoners. • 560 Cloud — Frankish prince who renounced his claim to the throne and became a hermit.
FROM TOP: ST REMIGIUS BAPTIZING CLOVIS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF REIMS, ST. CLOTILDA AND HER HUSBAND CLOVIS. www.Heritage-History.com e-History.com After the Fall of Rome—500 A.D. Christianity in Early Britain
• Christian Artifacts as old as 200 A.D. • St. Alban martyred in 304 • Christianity became legalized in 313 • Many Christian artifacts from 400’s • St. Patrick’s mission to Ireland, mid-400’s
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Irish Missionaries to Britain Saxons, Angles, Jutes
• Brigit founds monastery at Kildare, Ireland, 500 • Romans withdrew from Britain between 392 and 405 (left). • Columba, apostle to Picts, founds Iona monastery 563 • In 410, Honorius told Britons he would send no help.
• Mungo, apostle to Scotland founds Glasgow, 600 • Saxons began migrating to Britain 400’s (center).
• Irish monk Adain, founds monastery at Lindisfarne, 634 • King Arthur legend—Christian Britons vs. Saxon pagans (right). • Saxons conversion to Catholicism begins around 600, ends Dark ages of Britain.
www.Heritage-History.com Germanic Migrations Anglo-Saxon Christianity • Britons couldn’t resist waves of Anglo-Saxons because; • Saxons were pagan (Thor, Freya, etc.) – Peace-loving, civilized vs. savage – Despised religion of the Celts. . . Impressed by Roman Church – Settled, dependent on trade, vs. mobile – Augustine of Canterbury converts Ethelbert in 600 – 400 years of Roman protection – Most Anglo-Saxon princes convert within 100 years – Warrior Britons left with legions. • Cuthbert helps unite Celtic and Roman Churches, 664 • Britons pushed to Scotland, Wales • Bede writes Ecclesiastical History of English People in 700. • Some Britons migrated to Brittany • In 712, Boniface undertakes conversion of German Saxons.
Famous Heptarchy Monastriess • Anglo Kingdoms • Iona – Northumbria (North of • Lindisfarne Humber River, formerly • Jarrow Bernicia and Deira) • York – East Anglia • Crowland – Mercia • Winchester • Saxon Kingdoms • Canterbury – Essex (East Saxons) • Bath – Wessex (West Saxons) – Sussex (South Saxons) • Jute Kingdoms – Kent Christian Kingship Christian Kingship
• How powerful were Anglo-Saxon kings? • What was the idea of Christian Kingship? – Presided over local tribes only. Elected for life. – A society of princes governed by common Christian principles; – Often warred with neighboring kings? who would treat their population humanely, respect the rights • Why did kings convert to Christianity? of the church, and not rebel or make war without just cause. – Impressed by Christian Missionaries, Roman civilization • What were Benefits of Christian Kingship?
– Many benefits to becoming part of Christian community. ** next – Crown passed by hereditary right—no succession wars slide – Neighboring Christian princes could not usurp throne by • Why did people convert to their kings’ religion? force; would respect boundaries and aid in wars with pagans. – Worship was a tribal experience. – Christian subjects were relatively peaceful—taught to submit – Christian kings did not permit worship of idols in kingdom. to lawful authority, not rebel. • Why were Christian kings usually hereditary? – Churchmen were educated, often served as ministers of state – King was anointed to rule by “divine right” not human election. – Bishop advisors could not form dynasties so could be trusted. – Solved difficult “succession” conflicts. – Alliances could be made by marriage, not warfare. – Upheld Christian ideals of marriage and hereditary rights. – Canon law of church more advanced than tribal laws.