From Roman To Merovingian Gaul
Alexander Callander Murray
Number of quotes: 41
Book ID: 93 Page: 9
Section: 3C
What is lovelier than this triumphal celebration in which he Constantine employs the slaughter of enemies for the pleasure of us all, and enlarges the procession of the games out of the survivors of the massacre of the barbarians? He threw so great a multitude of captives to the beasts that the ungrateful and faithless men experienced no less suffering from the sport made of them than from death itself.
Quote ID: 2377
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 22
Section: 5D
3...Babylon thus had almost reached the 1164th year from her foundation, when she was despoiled of her wealth by the Medes and Arbatus, king of the Medes and perfect of Babylon, and deprived of both king and kingdom.Likewise, after the same amount of time, that is almost 1164 years after her foundation, Rome too was invaded by the Goths and Alaric, king of the Goths and a count of Rome.
Reign of Valentinian I, a. 364-75
Quote ID: 2378
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 24
Section: 3B1
Later he made his brother Valens joint emperor a. 364-378, and subsequently killed the usurper Procopius and many of the latter’s followers....Valens was baptized and converted by the bishop Eudoxius, a supporter of Arian views, and thus he fell into most terrible heresy...
Quote ID: 2379
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 25
Section: 3B1
Nevertheless, through the providence of God they the Burgundians have all recently become Christians, embracing the Catholic faith and acknowledging obedience to our clergy, so that they live mild, gentle, and upright lives, regarding the Gauls not as their subjects but in truth as their Christian brethren....
Quote ID: 2380
Time Periods: 34
Book ID: 93 Page: 27
Section: 3B1
In fatal perverseness the emperor Valens sent teachers of the Arian doctrine, and the Goths continued to believe what they first learned concerning the basic principles of faith. Therefore, by the just judgement of God Himself, Valens was burned alive by the very men who, through his action, will burn hereafter for their heresy.
Quote ID: 2381
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 33
Section: 3D2
39. Alaric appeared before trembling Rome, laid siege, spread confusion, and broke into the City 24 August 410. He first, however, gave orders that all those who had taken refuge in sacred places, especially in the basilicas of holy Apostles Peter and Paul, should be permitted to remain inviolate and unmolested; he allowed his men to devote themselves to plunder as much as they wished, but he gave orders that they should refrain from bloodshed.
Quote ID: 2382
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 33/34
Section: 3D2
While the barbarians were roaming through the City, one of the Goths, a powerful man and a Christian, chanced to find in a church building a virgin advanced in years who had dedicated herself to God. When he respectfully asked her for gold and silver, she declared with the firmness of her faith that she had a large amount in her possession and that she would bring it forth at once. She did so. Observing that the barbarian was astonished at the size, weight, and beauty of the riches displayed, even though he did not know the nature of the vessels, the virgin of Christ then said to him: “These are the sacred plate of the Apostle Peter. Presume, if you dare! You will have to answer for the deed. As for me, since I cannot protect them, I dare not keep them.” The barbarian, stirred to religious awe through the fear of God and by the virgin’s faith, sent word of the incident to Alaric. He ordered that all the vessels, just as they were, should be brought back immediately to the basilica of the Apostle, and that the virgin also, together with all Christians who might join the procession, should be conducted thither under escort.
Quote ID: 2383
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 57
Section: 2E2
As the voyage continues, Capraria now appears. The island is a mess, filled with men who flee from the light. They call themselves ‘monks’, a Greek name, because they want to live by themselves, with no one to see them. They are afraid of fortune’s gifts, even while they fear the harm she causes. Who would avoid being miserable by choosing to be miserable? What twisted mind came up with such lunacy as to reject good things as long as you are in fear of evil ones?
Quote ID: 2384
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 58
Section: 2E2
Gorgona arises surrounded by water in the midst of the sea flanked by Pisa and Corsica. I turn away from cliffs, monuments of a recent calamity. Here a fellow countryman was lost in a living death. For not long ago one of our youths, rich in ancestry with property and a wife to match, was driven by furies to abandon home and society and entered a shameful retreat, a credulous exile. The unfortunate fellow thought that filth is conducive to heavenly endeavors and inflicted on himself more cruelty than would offend gods. I ask you, is this not a sect more harmful than the poisons of Circe? In her times bodies were transformed, these days it is minds.
Quote ID: 2385
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 63
Section: 3D
a. 385 Year 358. Arcadius and Bauto....Priscillian, knowing he would be condemned at the Synod of Bordeaux, appealed o the emperor [Maximus]. He was tried at Trier and, along with Euchrotia, wife of Delfidius the teacher of rhetoric, Latronianus, and other partners in his error, was put to death by Euvodius, Maximus’s praetorian perfect. At Bordeaux a certain disciple of Priscillian called Urbica was stoned to death on account of her obstinate impiety by an unruly mob.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: Execution for heresy. What did she actually do?
Quote ID: 2386
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 111
Section: 5D
I know very well that it is unpleasant for us when we are struck down. Why are we surprised that God scourges us when we sin, when we ourselves flog our little slaves who transgress? We are unjust judges. We, little men, do not wish to be flayed by God, when we ourselves whip men who are of our own status. I do not wonder that we are unjust in this matter. In us, nature and wickedness are both servile. We wish to sin but not to be punished...
Quote ID: 2387
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 118
Section: 3D1
Therefore, they are heretics, but not heretics knowingly. Indeed, with us they are heretics, but in their own opinion they are not. So much do they judge themselves Catholics that they defame us with the title of heresy. What they are to us, therefore, we are to them. We are certain that they do injury to the divine begetting because they say the Son is less than the Father. They think we injure the Father because we believe the Father and Son are equal. We posses the truth, but they think they have it. We honor the Godhead, but they think their belief is the honor of His divinity.They are unobservant of their obligations, but to them this is the highest duty of their religion. They are ungodly, but they think that is true godliness. Therefore, they are in error, but they err with a good heart, not in hatred but in love of God, believing that they honor and love God. Although they possess not the true faith, they think they possess the perfect love of God. In what manner, for this erroneous and false belief, they are to be punished on the day of judgement, nobody can know but the Judge.
I think God bears patiently with them in the meantime because He sees that, although their belief is incorrect, they err through the acceptance of a seemingly correct opinion.
{3}...But all those of whom I speak are either Vandals or Goths.
Quote ID: 2388
Time Periods: 567
Book ID: 93 Page: 118/119
Section: 3D1
{4} Furthermore, insofar as it pertains to the way of life among the Vandals and Goths, in what way are we better than they, or can even be compared with them? First, let me speak of their love and charity which the Lord teaches is the chief of virtues and which He not only commends throughout sacred scriptures but even in His own words: “by this shall it be known that you are my disciples, that you love one another.” Almost all barbarians, at least those who are of one people under one king, love one another; almost all the Romans persecute each other....Pastor John notes: John’s note: The wickedness of Roman believers
Quote ID: 2389
Time Periods: 567
Book ID: 93 Page: 120
Section: 3D1
All the while, the poor are despoiled, the widows groan, the orphans are tread underfoot, so much so that many of them, and they are not of obscure birth and have received a liberal education, flee to the enemy lest they die from the pain of public persecution. They seek civilized treatment among barbarians because they cannot bear barbarous treatment among Romans.
Quote ID: 2390
Time Periods: 567
Book ID: 93 Page: 123
Section: 3D1
It would be a wonder to me that every last poor and needy taxpayer did not flee but for one reason only. They do not do it because they cannot carry with them their few little possessions, households, and families. For, when many of them would leave behind their plots of land and cottages in order to avoid the force of tax collection, how could they not wish to take with them, if there were any possibility of doing so, those things which they are compelled to leave behind? Therefore, because they are incapable of doing what they really prefer, they do one thing of which they are capable. They give themselves to the upper classes in return for care and protection. They surrender themselves as captives to the rich and, as it were, pass over into their jurisdiction and authority.
Quote ID: 2391
Time Periods: 567
Book ID: 93 Page: 125/126
Section: 2D3B
{10}...Is this true of laymen only, and not of some clergy? Is this true of men of the world only, and not of many religious also, or rather those given over to worldly vices under the appearance of religion? These, after shameful deeds and past crimes, have appropriated for themselves the title of holiness but have only professed the name not transformed their lives. They think that the height of divine worship consists in their attire rather than in their deeds, and have cast off their garments, but not their minds...This is certainly a new kind of conversion. They refrain from lawful acts and commit unlawful ones. They abstain from lawful sexual intercourse, but not from plunder. What are you doing in your foolish delusions? God forbade sin, not marriage. Your deeds do not fit your exertions. You should not be the friends of crime, you who call yourselves strivers after virtues. What you do is absurd. This is not conversion, but aversion...
Quote ID: 2392
Time Periods: 7
Book ID: 93 Page: 141
Section: 5D
...for the royal Scythian Attila pretended that he wished to hunt...
Quote ID: 2393
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 145
Section: 5D
This man, on the contrary, resembled a well-to-do Scythian, being well dressed and having his hair cut in a circle in Scythian fashion.
Quote ID: 2394
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 154
Section: 3A1
After his unsuccessful invasion of Gaul in 451, Attila invaded Italy in 452, where he was met by embassy sent from Rome. The pope’s participation in the embassy was soon the subject of legendary embellishment. Modern historians have often seen it as a sign of rising temporal powers on the part of the papacy, though in similar situations bishops had long undertaken embassies on behalf of their cities.
Quote ID: 2395
Time Periods: 35
Book ID: 93 Page: 175/176
Section: 3D
Emperors Arcadiius and Honorius to Julian, proconsul of Africa. We decree that the Donatists and heretics, whom the forbearance of Our Clemency has protected to this point, are to feel the force of the appropriate authority. Let them recognize by a clear order that they are deprived of the right to bear witness and to make a will and of entering into contracts with someone, and must forever be branded by infamy and be separated from the gatherings of decent people and participation in civil life.Ecclesiastical property of the Donatists is to be transferred to Catholics; Donatist clergy are to be exiled. Those who harbor fugitives fleeing this penalty will have their property confiscated and suffer the same punishment as a fugitive.
. . . .
Therefore anyone who is invested with the rank of proconsul, vicar, or count of the first rank shall be compelled to pay 200 pounds of silver to be added the resources of our fisc, unless he changes his mind and accepts Catholic practice. No one should suppose this will be enough to check their determination. Let the fine be imposed as often as such a person is convicted of attending a prohibited gathering, and if, after five times he cannot be brought back from his error by fines, let him at that point be referred to Our Clemency for us to pass server judgement regarding his entire property and his status.
We apply the same kind of penalties to other dignitaries (honorati);....
Quote ID: 2396
Time Periods: 4
Book ID: 93 Page: 231
Section: 3A4B
This letter is important for understanding the role of the bishop’s court in settling potential criminal suits; plaintiffs were entitled to bring such matters before secular or ecclesiastical tribunals, each of which provided different remedies.
Quote ID: 2397
Time Periods: 35
Book ID: 93 Page: 246
Section: 3A4B,3A4C
In 475 Epiphanius, bishop of Pavia (he is not mentioned by Sidonius) concluded an agreement with Euric. In the same year, a committee composed of four Gallic bishops, Basilius of Aix, Graecus of Marseilles, Faustus of Riez, and Leontius of Arles, arranged for the surrender of the Auvergne to Euric.
Quote ID: 2398
Time Periods: 5
Book ID: 93 Page: 249
Section: 3A4B
I hope you are ashamed of this treaty which brings neither honor nor advantage. The legations are channeled through you. Not only are the terms that have been negotiated revealed to you first of all, even though the emperor is not present, but terms to be discussed are entrusted to you.Pastor John’s note: Wow!
Quote ID: 2399
Time Periods: 5
Book ID: 93 Page: 250
Section: 3A4B
The letter’s recipient, Faustus, bishop of Riez and former abbot of the monastery of Lerins, may have been of British origin. He was one of the negotiators with Euric in 475 and was himself exiled around 476-484 for opposing Arianism.
Quote ID: 2400
Time Periods: 5
Book ID: 93 Page: 255
Section: 4B
The Arbogast of the letter was count of Trier. I am inclined to agree with the placement of this letter soon after Sidonius’s exile, but it might date much earlier in his episcopal career.. . . .
The Roman tongue has long been effaced from Belgic and Rhenish lands; but if its splendor has anywhere survived, it is surely with you; though the authority (iura) of Rome has collapsed on the frontier, as long as you live and preserve your eloquence, the language does not falter. For this reason, as I return your greeting; I rejoice that traces of our vanishing literary culture remain in your illustrious breast; continue your assiduous studies and you will find that people with learning are as much above simple folk as humans are above beasts.
Quote ID: 2401
Time Periods: 5
Book ID: 93 Page: 259
Section: 3D2
Clovis’s descendants, called the ‘Merovingians’ - a family name derived from the king’s grandfather Merovech (see 78-80) - ruled until 751.
Quote ID: 2402
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 259
Section: 3D2
For example, a problem recurrent in the modern literature on Clovis is the date of the king’s baptism in the Catholic faith, an event often seen as a watershed in European history. Gregory connects Clovis’s conversion, and subsequent baptism, to the persuasive efforts of his wife Chlothild, and then to the king’s battlefield victory against Alamanni in 496. The dates of his baptism suggested by modern scholars on the basis of earlier sources range from 496, Gregory’s date, to 508, the year after the famous battle of Vouille, in which Clovis, whom Gregory portrayed as a champion of Catholicism, defeated the Arian king of the Visigoths, Alaric.
Quote ID: 2403
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 261
Section: 3D2
Bishop Avitus to King ClovisThe followers of all kinds of sects have cast the shadow of the name Christian over your keen intelligence with their views, diverse in their conjecture, various in their great number, and empty as far as truth is concerned. While we consign those views to Eternity and, while we reserve to a future investigation anything each person thinks is right, still, the radiant ray of truth shines forth at the present time. Indeed, divine providence finds in our day a certain arbiter. Though you choose on your own behalf, you make a judgement for us all: your faith is your victory.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: Encourages him to continue to deny his ancestors’ faith
Quote ID: 2404
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 262
Section: 3D2
Thus in fitting fashion the regenerating waters brought you forth to salvation on the day when the world received the Lord of heaven, who was born for its redemption. The day renowned as the Lord’s birthday is also yours - when you were born to Christ and when Christ was born to the world. On this day you have consecrated your soul to God, your life to the present generation, and your fame to posterity.
Quote ID: 2405
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 262
Section: 3D2
There is one matter I would have improved. Since God through you makes your people completely His own, I would have you extend from the good treasury of your heart the seed of faith to more remote peoples whom none of the sprouts of perverse dogma has corrupted, because they are still situated in a state of natural ignorance.
Quote ID: 2406
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 267
Section: 3D2
42. LETTER OF CLOVIS TO AQUITANIAN BISHOPS ON THE KING’S PEACE AND APOSTOLIC LETTERS, a. 507/08This interesting letter is probably the closest we will ever come to the ‘real’ Clovis. It should not be read as a personal letter, however, but rather as an official expression of royal policy at a particular moment, when an invasion of Visigothic territory was underway. It is usually dated to 507.
. . . .
In the first place, we have commanded with respect to the rights of all churches, that no one is to try to seize any kind of property, neither from religious women nor from widows who can be shown to be dedicated to the service of the Lord; likewise, from clerics and the children of both clerics and widows staying in the homes of their parents. So too, with regard to slaves of the churches, who are established by the oaths of bishops to have been taken from the churches, the command has been given that none of them are to suffer any violence or injury.
Quote ID: 2407
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 270
Section: 3D2
1. LETTER OF NICETIUS, BISHOP, OF TRIER, TO CHLODOSWINTHA, QUEEN OF THE LOMBARDS, ca. 564Chlodoswintha was the daughter of Chlothar I and granddaughter of Clovis. This letter sent to her by Nicetius, bishop of Trier (a. 525/6-post 561), was an exhortation for her to win over her husband Alboin to Catholicism; Alboin was king of the Lombards in Pannonia and an Arian Christian. The first part of the letter, omitted here, gives doctrinal arguments for the superiority of orthodoxy over Arianism and then emphasizes the miraculous power of Gallic, Catholic Saints, especially that of Saint Martin of Tours. The letter is, among other things, evidence for traditions about Clovis’s conversion and baptism before Gregory of Tours wrote his Histories
Pastor John notes: John’s note: Find this!!!!
. . . .
When he was baptized, you have heard all he accomplished against the heretic
king Alaric [II] and Gundobad; you are not aware of what he and his sons were given to possess in this world.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: War
Quote ID: 2408
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 275/276
Section: 3D2
Then the king, acknowledging almighty God in the Trinity, was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit, and anointed with holy chrism under the sign of the cross of Christ.As for his army, more than three thousand men were baptized.
. . . .
Another sister of the king was also converted. Her name was Lantechildis, and, though she had fallen into heresy of the Arians, she acknowledged the Son and the holy Spirit as equal to the Father and received the holy chrism.
Quote ID: 2409
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 279
Section: 3D2
...This argument confounded Gundobad, but he persisted in this madness to his dying day and would not acknowledge in public the equality of the Trinity.
Quote ID: 2410
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 280
Section: 3D2
The King Clovis said to his men, “I take it very badly that these Arians hold part of Gaul. With God’s help, let’s go and conquer them and bring the land under our authority.”
Quote ID: 2411
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 283
Section: 3D2
38. On the Patriciate of King ClovisThen Clovis received from the emperor Anatasius documents conferring the consulate on him and, in the church of the blessed Martin, having been vested in the purple tunic and chlamys, he set a diadem upon his head.
Quote ID: 2412
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 285
Section: 3D2
“Why,” asked Clovis, “have you disgraced our lineage by allowing yourself to be bound? It would have been better for you to die.”Raising his ax, he drove it into Ragnachar’s head. Then he turned to Ragnachar’s brother.
“If you had given your brother help,” he said, “surely he wouldn’t have been bound.”
With a blow of his ax, he killed him the same way.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: Clovis’s regular method
Quote ID: 2413
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 289
Section: 3D2
Gregory continued his account of Gallic affairs after Clovis’s death with a history of the king’s successors. This history is the major, if not the only source (cf.20) for the half century following Clovis’s death.
Quote ID: 2414
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 300
Section: 3D2
When they were killed, Chlothar mounted his horse and went away, viewing the killing of his nephews as of little consequence. Childebert retired to the outskirts of the city. As for the queen, she placed their small bodies on a bier and accompanied it to the basilica of Saint Peter amid much psalm singing and endless grieving. She buried them side by side. One of them was ten years old, the other seven. But the third, Chlodoald, they were unable to get hold of, since he was saved by the help of his fighting men. He put aside his earthly kingdom and passed over into the Lord’s service; cutting his hair with his own hands, he became cleric, performing good works, and passed away from this life as a priest.Pastor John notes: John’s note: Escaped death by this
Quote ID: 2415
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 305/306
Section: 3D2
King Chlothar had proclaimed that all the churches of his kingdom were to pay a third of their income to the fisc. When all the bishops had unwillingly agreed to this and signed their names, the blessed Injuriosus bishop of Tours, ca. 530-546, manfully rejected doing so and refused to sign.“If you try to take the things of God,” he said, “the Lord will quickly take away your kingdom, for it is wrong for the poor to have to fill your granary, when you should be feeding them from it.”
He was angry with the king and left without saying farewell.
The king was unsettled by this and, being afraid also of the power of the blessed Martin, sent after the bishop with gifts, begging pardon, condemning his own actions, and asking also that the bishop intercede with the power of the blessed Martin on his behalf.
Quote ID: 2416
Time Periods: ?
Book ID: 93 Page: 318
Section: 3D2
Mummolus The PatricianHis Career and Campaigns against the Saxons and Lombards (IV 42, 44)
Eunius, also called Mummolus, was promoted to the post of patrician by King Guntram. It is necessary, I think, to recollect at greater length certain details about the beginning of his service.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: 570?, Gaul
Quote ID: 2417
Time Periods: ?
End of quotes