Episcopal Groups in Hispania

Abstract

SummaryThis study considers the most important Christian architectural complex in the Late Antique city, which at the same time came to be seen as a fundamental point of reference for the ecclesiastical structure of the surrounding territory. Taking the current state of research on episcopal groups in Hispania as its starting point, this paper aims to reach a series of conclusions as regards their location, spatial evolution and the total area they occupied, as well as their internal distribution. In addition, the continuing difficulties involved in archaeologically defining the presence of these religious complexes in the majority of episcopal sees created in Hispania during this period are discussed.

The Visigothic Kingdom

“…52 Vázquez de Parga Iglesias 1943Mansilla Reoyo 1994. the eighth century. Nevertheless, the comparison of these lists with an earlier one collected in the canons of the Council of Iliberris held in the fourth century 53 underlines the relative stability of the network of bishoprics in this province, in which there only appeared the bishoprics of Assido, Ilipa, and Astigi. This relative similarity between the lists reinforces the validity of the Nomina Hispanarum sedium, despite the temporal distance between the date of writing and the end of Roman Hispania.…”

“…It has been likewise assumed for the Frankish king Clovis I (482-511) that his military success was based on the fact that he was able to take over the late antique Roman armouries ( fabricae) in Soisson, which ensured a constant supply of valuable war equipment. 53 Whether Visigothic warships were galleys on the ancient Roman model with rowing benches occupied by slaves, 54 who were numerous in the Visigoth Empire, cannot be determined. This is because the remains of late antique or early medieval ships are not clearly attributable to either Byzantine or Barbarian fleets, owing to the same building type.…”

“…And yet there is the statement by Procopius that there existed a people in the Gothic army called the Rugians who did not intermarry with the Goths. 53 The Rugians confessed the Gothic faith and followed Theodoric to Italy and settled in the Veneto. In the spring of 541 their chieftain even managed to become the king of the Italian Goths.…”

“…Denique cum vir illustris Claudius atrium introisset protinus et illi qui supra memorati sunt cum ingentibus catervis populi introierunt ac deinde salutato viro sancto ex more considerunt. 53 In the broader context, the author is writing again about the conspiracy of Sunna and the same people involved. That means illi qui supra memorati sunt are Sunna and the Gothic noblemen, who enter the atrium to meet the Catholic bishop Masona.…”

“…Nonetheless, an important phenomenon, namely the emergence of 'Danubian fashion' and its associated barbarian objects, may well be explained by the migration of population groups from the Danube region to the Iberian Peninsula. 53 Of course, this applies mainly to the 53 Pinar Gil 2012a, pp. 396, 727 seq., 738;2012b, p. 115: 'There is little doubt that the funerary practice of burying the dead with everyday life's adornments and accessories shows a close initial phase, because in following years clothing accessories and their use in the funerary rituals changed, as well as did the identities of the burial population.…”