With one foot in the font: the failed baptism of the Frisian king Radbod and the 8th-century discussion about the fate of unbaptized forefathers

Abstract

This contribution tries to outline a context for the well-known story of the Frisian King Radbod withdrawing from the baptismal font when hearing that his ancestors would not receive the same privilege. This story is transmitted in the Vita Wulframni, a text that has been regarded as a forgery. Following a summary of Stéphane Lebecq's analysis of the Vita, the story about Radbod's failed baptism can be shown to belong to a part of this text that was composed by the Frisian monk Ovo in the AD 740s. As such, it is a central document in the debate about the fate of pagan ancestors vibrant at precisely this time, with Boniface and the Irish bishop Clemens being the best-known protagonists. The anecdote was not written to deny Willibrord his pride of place in the Christianization of Frisia, but rather to corroborate Boniface's point of view with Willibrord's authority. There is some indication suggesting that Willibrord himself had a different opinion in this question, a crucial element in the process of Christianization.

“Almost Like Family. Or Were They?” Vikings, Frisian Identity, and the Nordification of the Past

“…It is estimated that the exhibition attracted some 88,000 visitors, two-thirds of whom came from outside the province of Friesland (Brugman 2020). Famous though this anecdote may be, it is unlikely that it is based on actual events; see Meens (2014). For a thorough examination of the historical facts and fictions surrounding the enigmatic figure of Redbad, see especially Meeder and Goosmann (2018).…”