Description ~ This chapter is written through the lens of an unknown writer in Mérida around ca. 630. The mysterious author praises Catholicism and makes it very clear that he is no fan of the Visigoths, specifically Leovigild, who tried to impose their Arian beliefs.
- Leovigild (569-586) was the last Arian king before the Visigothic conversion to Catholicism.
- The author portrays Leovigild as a monster who is trying to keep the people away from the true faith – Catholicism.
- “The savage and cruel king of the Visigoths” (pg 5).
- Leovigild apoointed a “false” bishop, Sunna, who was equally despised by the writer.
- “He was a supporter of wicked doctrine, a baleful and harsh featured man; his brow was wild, his eyes savage, and his aspect hateful, his movements horrifying” (pg 6).
- Author says Visigoths and Catholics fought over control of churches.
- Court hearing about who would get the church of St. Eulalia…Catholics won.
- “God stopped the mouth of them that spoke wicked things” (pg 7).
- But the victory did not last, the Bishop who spoke on behalf of the Catholics (Masona) was sent to Toledo to speak in front of the king, Leovigild. Once there he was beaten until he renounced his faith… but he wouldn’t!
Conclusion ~ This short essay shows the religious intolerance of both the Visigoths and Catholics. The author portrays the Visigothic beliefs in a negative light while he depicts Catholicism as the one true faith. This story greatly contrasts with Menocal’s idea of coexistence between the two faiths of Islam and Catholicism.
Source ~ Constable, Olivia Remie., and Damian Zurro. Medieval Iberia Readings from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Sources. Philadelphia, Pa: U of Pennsylvania, 2012. Print.