Olivia Constable begins her anthology Medieval Iberia by relating documents of the Visigoth kingdoms at the start of the fifth century. In the chapter The Visigothic Conversion to Catholicism, she references a record of the Third Council of Toledo, which details the decrees of the newly converted King Reccared.
It is my opinion that the impetus for this conversion is understated. In this chapter’s forward, Constable suggests that this shift allowed for the unification of the country so as to better promote national stability. The Catholic Church was awarded huge concessions in socio-political power; their dominance over daily proceedings completely changing the Iberian climate. Here are some of the most salient changes that Reccared instituted:
-Ban on inter-faith marriage
-Chastity for bishops and deacons
-Respecting the will of the women and widows to decline marriage
-Excommunication or head-shaving for those asking for penance
-Active destruction of idols
-Prohibition of funeral rites deemed inappropriate by the church
-Proper action against child-murderers
-Churches and church goods belong to the bishops (implies defined ownership of religious buildings)
Source:
Constable, Olivia Remie., and Damian Zurro. Medieval Iberia Readings from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Sources. Philadelphia, Pa: U of Pennsylvania, 2012. Print.