Ecclesiastical Networks and the Papacy at the End of Late Antiquity, c. 550–700 A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2018 Sihong Lin School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Table of Contents List of Abbreviations 4 Abstract 5 Declaration and Copyright Statement 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 8 Historiography 12 The Sources and Their Context 20 Methodology and Structure 26 1. The World of Gregory the Great 32 1.1 Imperial Patriarchs 35 1.2 The ‘Conversion’ of Khosrow II 50 1.3 The Gregorian Mission in Context 57 2. The Papacy and the ‘World Crisis’ 64 2.1 Phocas and Heraclius 66 2.2 The Moschan Circle in Egypt 74 2.3 Honorius’ Rome 80 2.4 Age of Division 85 3. Aftershocks of 649 93 3.1 Visigothic Spain 96 3.2 Merovingian Gaul 106 3.3 Imperial Triumph 124 4. Maximus, Wilfrid, and the End of Late Antiquity 134 4.1 Saints on Trial 136 4.2 Wilfrid in Rome 144 4.3 The Franks and Whitby 157 4.4 The Tide Turns 166 Epilogue: The Sixth Ecumenical Council 174 2 Conclusions 178 Bibliography 184 Word count: 77,917 3 List of Abbreviations AASS Acta sanctorum ACO Acta conciliorum oecumenicorum CCSG Corpus Christianorum, Series Graeca CCSL Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium MGH Monumenta Germaniae Historica AA Auctores antiquissimi SRG Scriptores rerum Germanicarum SRL Scriptores rerum Langobardicarum et Italicarum SRM Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum ODB A. Kazhdan (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, 3 vols. (Oxford, 1991). ODLA O. Nicholson (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity, 2 vols. (Oxford, 2018). PBE J. R. Martindale (ed.), Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire (641‒867) (2015), http://www.pbe.kcl.ac.uk. PG Patrologia Cursus Completus, Series Graeca PL Patrologia Cursus Completus, Series Latina PLRE J. R. Martindale (ed.), The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire III (A.D. 527‒641), 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1992). PmbZ R.-J. Lilie, C. Ludwig, B. Zielke, and T. Pratsch (eds.), Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online (2013), https://www.degruyter.com/view/db/pmbz. PO Patrologia Orientalis 4 Abstract The history of the late-antique papacy has long fascinated historians, but studies of popes and their allies have rarely considered both Latin and Greek sources on equal terms. This thesis aims to fill this unfortunate lacuna by considering together networks of individuals aligned with papal interests from both the Roman Empire (‘Byzantium’) and the post-Roman West. In the process, a new interpretation of the careers of particular popes and the course of the monothelete controversy will be presented. While the seventh century is still often seen as a time when the unity of the Mediterranean world and late-antique Christendom fractured, by examining Palestinian monks, Frankish bishops, and Anglo-Saxon pilgrims together, the case is made that, from the perspectives of contemporaries, the divisions were perhaps not yet so obvious. This study begins with the friends and acquaintances of Gregory the Great, whose pontificate often looms large in histories of the early medieval West. Events in Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch, however, should still be integrated into narratives of the pope’s actions, for specific parallels to Gregory’s projects, most especially the Gregorian mission to England, can be detected in the available Greek sources. Similar connections in the seventh century are highlighted in the second chapter, which revisits papal history after Gregory’s death to 649. This period remains a poorly understood and poorly documented one, but here I argue that fresh insights can be drawn from the words of the Venerable Bede and the writings of the monastic circle that gathered around the Cilician John Moschus. A revised narrative of the opening salvos of the monothelete controversy completes this analysis, for recent reinterpretations of this doctrinal debate have changed considerably our understanding of the Christological furore consuming the empire. The third and fourth chapters continue the story by venturing far beyond imperial borders. The consequences of the Lateran Synod of 649 in Visigothic Spain and Merovingian Gaul are discussed in detail first, for the imperial ‘heresy’ also left a tangible mark among the ‘barbarians’. The hagiographical and conciliar evidence are certainly difficult to work with, but new possibilities can still be raised for how these western churches responded to pleas from Rome. The final chapter meanwhile surveys both the struggles of the anti-monothelete dissidents after the condemnation of their leaders, Pope Martin and Maximus the Confessor, and developments in Anglo-Saxon England. The careers of Wilfrid of York and Theodore of Tarsus, two men who loom large in any history of the early Anglo-Saxon church, are given particular attention. Indeed, this thesis argues that they too can be situated within imperial history, for their entanglements with Rome had exposed them to the very real consequences of papal dissent against Constantinople. Throughout this study, I argue that a transregional reading of the sources can provide more nuanced interpretations of even well-known texts. Latin histories, for example, can help to fill the gap in contemporary Greek historiography, while Greek writings are invaluable for understanding the often obscure twists and turns of papal politics. The interpretations offered here of events from Egypt to Northumbria and between Visigothic Spain and caliphal Palestine still present only a limited picture of the networks and exchanges possible in the seventh century, but the connections outlined in this thesis are, nonetheless, important additions to narratives of the end of late antiquity. 5 Declaration No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. Copyright Statement i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=24420), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/about/ regulations/) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses. 6 Acknowledgements This study of networks would not have been the same without my own. Above all, my PhD owes much to the encouragement and advice of my supervisors, Paul Fouracre and Charles Insley, whose incisive questions and good cheer have been a constant for the past three years. Stephen Mossman and Mark Whelan, the other members of my panel, have likewise been of enormous help and I would like to thank both for their generous support. I am grateful too for the funding provided by the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, the President's Doctoral Scholarship scheme, artsmethods@manchester, and the Royal Historical Society throughout my PhD, without which this thesis would not have been possible. Special thanks must also go to Phil Booth, who introduced me to Maximus the Confessor and whose work remain a profound influence, as well as Lesley Abrams, in whose tutorials I first encountered Wilfrid of York. The fact that I am still exploring the world of Maximus and Wilfrid today is a testament to the impact of their teaching. Throughout the PhD I have benefited enormously from conversations with many other scholars, most notably Marek Jankowiak, Katy Cubitt, Miranda Wilcox, Alan Thacker, Tom Brown, and Laury Sarti, and this thesis would be much weaker without their thoughtful comments. Students of late antiquity and the Middle Ages are similarly generous in sharing their expertise and I am particularly thankful for the insights and collaboration of Mateusz Fafinski and James Harland. Closer to home, the medievalist contingent at Manchester has been an essential part of my life for three years and I am grateful to all for bearing with me for so long. I owe a particular debt to Ryan Goodman, whose friendship has helped me in more ways than I can count. Finally, it was a pleasure to organise the Connecting Medieval Worlds seminars at Manchester with my partners- in-crime Adam Simmons and Holly Atkinson. Their enthusiasm for a Global Middle Ages is infectious, and long may that continue. Beyond the seventh century, thanks must go to Aaron, Mark, and Georgia for all our adventures together, as well as Jules, who made our time in the office far more enjoyable than it should have been through her encouragement and good humour.