[gothic-l] Franks: Arianism vs. Catholicism

[Sollers]

----- Original Message -----
From: <czobor at cantacuzino.ro>
To: <gothic-l at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: 15 May 2001 14:52
Subject: [gothic-l] Franks: Arianism vs. Catholicism


Hails allaim!

I wrote in previous messages (No. 3784 and 3796) that I found the view
that language affinity played also a (little, secondary) role in the
decision of Franks for Catholicism rather than Arianism in Wolfram's
"Die Germanen", but I was not shure. I checked and found out that I
was right. I quote below the relevant passage (from: Herwig Wolfram -
"Die Germanen", 3rd Ed., Verlag C.H.Beck, München, 1997, page 85):
"Die Besonderheit und Widersttandskraft der wulfilanischen Tradition
beruhte nicht zuletzt auf ihrer Volkssprachigkeit. Vereinzelte
Versuche römisch-katholischen Bischöfe,durch Predigten in der
Volkssprache die gothischen Seelen zu gewinnen, konnten dagegen kaum
etwas ausrichten. Die während des 5. Jahrhunderts in den Westen
abgewanderten gotisch-vandalischen Völker brachten ihren Glauben mit,
waren aber ihrerseits zu schwach, um die in Westen längst gefallene
Entscheidung zugunsten des Katholizismus rückgängig zu machen. Es ist
daher kein wunder, daß der Merowinger Chlodwig, der als Franke der
gotischen Glaubensüberlieferung wie der Sprache Wulfilas ferner stand,
sich - zumindest nach einigem Zögern - doch für den Katholizismus der
römischen Mehrheit seines Herrschaftsgebiets entschied. Dagegen waren
die Könige der Goten, Vandalen, Burgunder und schließlich die der
Langobarden zu Herren ihrer arianischen Kirche geworden, die jeweils
gleichsam den Platz der alten Stammsreligion einnahm."
Below I try a tentative of translation (in English, I hope):
"The specificity and power of resistance of the Wulfilan tradition
was based not in the last instance on its popular laguage character.
Isolated tentatives of romano-catholic bishops to gain the Gothic
souls through sermons in the popular language were not very
successful. The Gothic-Vandalic peoples that emigrated in the 5th
century westwards brought with them their faith, but were to weak to
revert the decision for Catholicism taken by the West long ago. For
this reason it is not surprisingly that Chlodwig the Merovingian, who
as a Frank stood farther from the Gothic religious tradition as well
as from Wulfila's language, decided - at least after some hesitation -
for the Catholicism of the Roman majority of his possession. On the
other hand, the kings of the Goths, Vandals, Burgundians as well as
those of the Longobards became the heads of their Arian church, that
replaced the old tribal religions."
As you can see, Wolfram mentioned the language argument only
incidentally and did not make it the main reason for the decision of
Franks for Catholicism. As in many cases, it was in the first line a
political decision, influenced by the fact that Catholicism was
the religion of the Gallo-Romanic majority of his kingdom.

Francisc


I would very much recommend the book "The Conversion of Europe: From
Paganism to Christianity 371-1386" by Richard Fletcher.  He is particularly
interesting on the foundations of Ulfilan Arianism and what Wulfila was
actually trying to achieve; the general lack of interest in converting
barbarians among the Romans - including, surprisingly enough, Remigius - and
the fact that Clovis' sister was Arian and so, possibly, for a short time,
was Clovis.

Fascinating book, with some entertaining sidelines like the fact that monks
getting falling down drunk would normally, in the 7th and 8th centuries,
have to do penance, unless it was under the orders of their abbot or a
bishop; just as well, Fletcher suggests, for occasions like the three-day
party Wilfred laid on to celebrate the dedication of Ripon.

Have fun.

Sollers


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