In a message dated 99-11-28 11:32:30 EST, you write:
<< I am perhaps anticipating somewhat, but was there any ascertainable
reason why the Goths adopted Arianism? In other respects, Theodoric,
for example, seems to have gone out of his way to emulate the
Orthodox emperors in Constantinople. And it caused them no end of
trouble. >>
In the 350's or 60's a christian missionary of the arian persuasion named
Ulfila crossed the Danube to convert the Goths. He was apparently working
with the blessings of the empire and achieved considerable success. Part of
his success was that he translated the bible, or certain portions thereof,
into Gothic, fragments of which remain.
After moving into the empire and establishing themselves as people of
importance it is assumed the Goths maintained their Arian position, but there
is little other than anti-Gothic propaganda to support that fact. As the
term Arian was always used in association with Gothic or Germanic
institutions I believe it is quite possible the two became synonymous without
necessarily indicating a set of religious beliefs.
As for Theodoric, I'll assume you mean Theodoric the Great (491-526). Since
the emperor Anastasius willingly gave Theodoric the imperial regalia in
497/8, it would appear that it was more than emulation. In fact, there is
much of that Gothic king's reign that appears imperial in every legal sense,
except that he never bore the title of emperor. Anyway, as far as religious
positions are concerned it is impossible to tell what Theodoric believed. He
didn't blink when the Franks became openly Catholic, in fact his daughter
married one of Clovis' children. He didn't blink when the Burgundians and
Vandals followed suit. He encouraged the pope and the emperor Justin to
build "bridges." He certainly aided the building of a great many Catholic
churches. Yet, the executions of Boethius and Symmachus and the imprisonment
of the pope John (which lead to the poor fellows death) has certainly painted
him out as anti-Catholic. My gut feeling is that these late reign blemishes
were part of a difficult political situation and had nothing to do with
religion.
mark
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