文摘
This dissertation argues that between the years 586 and 712 the Visigothic Church and its failure to control its autonomous and corrupt bishops and clergy had a serious impact on the functionality of the Visigothic government and eventually contributed to the fragmentation and failure of the kingdom in 712. The argument re-examines some of the primary sources,such as the Lex Visigothorum,council canons,the Vita sancti Fructuosi,and the autobiography of Valerius of Bierzo,among other sources. In the Third Council of Toledo 589),in an attempt to secure his position as king,Reccared not only converted the kingdom from Arianism to Catholicism,but also gave the bishops secular political responsibilities. These responsibilities included overseeing the administration of justice in courts,and determining salaries of government officials and tax rates. Throughout the seventh century,as the bishops met in national councils,the canons reveal that not only were bishops and clergy failing to execute their secular tasks according to the precepts laid out in Toledo III,but many were also corrupt in the execution of their religious duties. Moreover,this corruption was also present among abbots and monks throughout the kingdom. These problems severely hindered the efficacy of the central government as well as the efforts of Church reformists to unify and stabilize the Church. The last quarter of the seventh century was witness to a struggle between kings,the Church,and the nobility over control and stability within the kingdom. The kings sought to establish order through secular or canon law. Some kings suppressed the Church,some attempted to work with the Church,while others conceded to the demands of the Church. Collaboration frequently brought rebellions---where bishops and nobles fought side-by-side---and usurpation,suppression brought peace,but,in the long-term produced tension and resulted in a weakened monarchy. This only helped to further entrench the autonomous noble-episcopal factions that were beginning to chip away at central authority. The inability of the Church to remedy its internal problems,their alliance with the nobility,and the eventually weakened kingship had created a fragmented kingdom subject to invasion.
