Germanic Christianity
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[[Image:Stuttgart Psalter fol23.jpg|thumb|300px|9th century depiction of Christ as a heroic warrior (Stuttgart Psalter, fol. 23, illustration of [[Psalm 91]]:13)]]
The '''[[Germanic peoples]]''' underwent gradual '''[[Christianization]]''' in the course of [[Late Antiquity]] and the [[Early Middle Ages]]. By the 8th century, most of [[Anglo-Saxon England|England]] and the [[Frankish Empire]] was Christian, and by AD 1100, [[Germanic paganism]] had also ceased to have political influence in [[Scandinavia]].
==History==
In the [[4th century]], the early process of [[Christianization]] of the various [[Germanic peoples|Germanic people]] was partly facilitated by the prestige of the Christian [[Roman Empire]] amongst European pagans. Until the [[decline of the Roman Empire]], the Germanic [[tribes]] who had migrated there (with the exceptions of the [[Saxons]], [[Franks]], and [[Lombards]], see below) had converted to Christianity.<ref>Padberg 1998, 26</ref> Many of them, notably the [[Goths]] and [[Vandals]], adopted [[Arianism]] instead of the [[Trinity|Trinitarian]] (a.k.a. [[First Council of Nicea|Nicene]] or ''orthodox'') beliefs that came to dominate the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Imperial Church.<ref>Padberg 1998, 26</ref> The gradual rise of Germanic Christianity was, at times, voluntary, particularly amongst groups associated with the Roman Empire.
From the [[6th century]], Germanic tribes were converted (and re-converted) by [[Missionary|missionaries]] of the Roman Church.
Many Goths converted to Christianity as individuals outside the Roman Empire. Most members of other tribes converted to Christianity when their respective tribes settled within the Empire, and most Franks and Anglo-Saxons converted a few generations later. During the later centuries following the [[Fall of Rome]], as the Roman Church gradually split between the [[diocese]]s loyal to the [[Pope|Patriach of Rome]] in the [[Roman Catholic Church|West]] and those loyal to the other [[Patriarch]]s in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|East]], most of the Germanic peoples (excepting the [[Crimean Goths]] and a few other eastern groups) would gradually become strongly allied with the Western Church, particularly as a result of the reign of [[Charlemagne]].
===Goths===
{{Main|Gothic Christianity}}
In the 3rd century, East-Germanic peoples migrated into Scythia. Gothic culture and identity emerged from various East-Germanic, local, and Roman influences. In the same period, Gothic raiders took captives among the Romans, including many Christians, (and Roman-supported raiders took captives among the Goths).
Wulfila or [[Ulfilas]] was the son or grandson of Christian captives from Sadagolthina in Cappadocia. In [[337]] or [[341]], Wulfila became the first bishop of the (Christian) Goths. By [[348]], one of the (Pagan) Gothic kings (reikos) began persecuting the Christian Goths, and Wulfila and many other Christian Goths fled to [[Moesia Secunda]] (in modern [[Bulgaria]]) in the Roman Empire.<ref>[[Auxentius of Durostorum]], ''Letter of Auxentius'', quoted in Heather and Matthews, ''Goths in the Fourth Century'', pp. 141-142.</ref><ref>[[Philostorgius]] via Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 2, chapter 5.</ref> Other Christians, including [[Wereka and Batwin|Wereka, Batwin]], and [[Sabbas the Goth|Saba]], died in later persecutions.
Between [[348]] and [[383]], Wulfila translated the Bible into the [[Gothic language]].<ref>[[Auxentius of Durostorum]], ''Letter of Auxentius'', quoted in Heather and Matthews, ''Goths in the Fourth Century'', p. 140.</ref><ref>[[Philostorgius]] via Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 2, chapter 5.</ref> Thus some Arian Christians in the west used the vernacular languages, in this case including Gothic and Latin, for services, as did Christians in the eastern Roman provinces, while most Christians in the western provinces used Latin.
===Franks & Alamanni===
The [[Franks]] and their ruling [[Merovingian]] dynasty, that had migrated to [[Gaul]] from the 3rd century had remained pagan at first. On Christmas [[498]]<ref>[[497]] or [[499]] are also possible; Padberg 1998: 53</ref>, however, [[Clovis I]] following his victory at the [[Battle of Tolbiac]] converted to the ''orthodox'' faith of the Roman Church and let himself be baptised at [[Rheims]]. The details of this event have been passed down by [[Gregory of Tours]].
The [[Alamanni]] became Christians only after a period of syncretism during the [[7th century]], by gradual emulation of the new religion of the [[Merovingian]] elite.
The [[Lombards]] adopted Roman Christianity as they entered [[Italy]], also during the 6th century.
In the [[8th century]], the [[Franks]] became standard-bearers of Roman Christianity in Western Europe, waging wars on its behalf against Arian Christians, [[Islam]]ic invaders, and pagan Germanic peoples such as the [[Saxons]] and [[Frisians]]. Until [[1066]], when the [[Danish people|Dane]] and the [[Norsemen|Norse]] had lost their foothold in [[Great Britain|Britain]], theological and missionary work in [[Germany]] was largely organized by [[Anglo-Saxon mission]]aries, with mixed success. A key event was the felling of [[Thor's Oak]] near [[Fritzlar]] by [[Boniface]], apostle of the Germans, in [[723]].
Eventually, the conversion was imposed by armed force and successfully completed by Charles the Great ([[Charlemagne]]) and the Franks in a series of campaigns (the [[Saxon Wars]]), starting in [[772]] with the destruction of their [[Irminsul]] and culminating in the defeat and massacre of Saxon leaders at the [[Bloody Verdict of Verden]] in [[787]] and the subjugation of this large tribe.
===England===
{{main|Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England}}
Christianization of [[Anglo-Saxon England]] began around AD [[600]], influenced by the Church of Rome from the south-east and the [[Hiberno-Scottish mission]] from the north-west. The first [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] took office in [[597]].
The last pagan Anglo-Saxon king, [[Arwald]], was killed in [[686]].
===Scandinavia===
{{main|Christianization of Scandinavia}}
Scandinavia was the last part of Germanic Europe to convert and most resistant. From the [[High Middle Ages]], the territories of [[Northern Europe]] were gradually converted to Christianity under [[German people|German]] leadership, and made into [[nation state]]s under the Church's guidance, finalized in the [[Northern Crusades]].
Later, German and [[Scandinavia]]n noblemen extended their power to also [[Finnic]], [[Sami people|Samic]], [[Balts|Baltic]] and some [[Slavic peoples]].
==Characteristics==
Not only because it had an immense impact on the [[history of Europe]], the Baptism of Clovis deserves a second look. It may also serve to highlight two important characteristics of the Christianization of Europe. Clovis I' wife [[Clotilde]] was Roman Catholic and did have an important role in the conversion of her husband.<ref>Padberg 1998, 47</ref> Long before his own baptism, Clovis had allowed that his sons became baptised.<ref>Padberg 1998, 48</ref> However, the decisive reason for Clovis to adopt the Christian belief was the spiritual battle aid he received from [[Christ]].<ref>Padberg 1998, 87</ref> In the [[Battle of Tolbiac]] he came in such difficulties that he prayed to Christ for victory. Clovis was victorious, and afterwards he had himself instructed in the Christian faith by [[Saint Remigius]].<ref>Padberg 1998, 52</ref>
That a [[Commander-in-chief]] would attribute his victory to the Christian God is a recurring motive since the [[Constantinian shift]]. Although the [[New Testament]] nowhere mentions that divine battle aid could be gained from Christ,<ref>Padberg 1998:48><!--göttlicher Sieghelfer--></ref> the Christian cross was known as a trophy to bestow victory since [[Constantine I]] and the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]].
However, that a pagan like Clovis, could ask Christ for help also shows the adaptability of the [[Germanic polytheism]]. In the [[polytheistic]] Germanic tradition, ''if Odin failed, one absolutely could try it with Christ for once''.<ref>Padberg 1998: 48 <!--"Und wenn Odin versagte, konnte man es durchaus einmal mit Christus versuchen."--></ref> The Christian sense of religious exclusiveness, as obvious from the ''First Commandment'',<ref>''I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me''; see: [[Ten Commandments]]</ref> was unknown to the pagans. As a result, pagans could be pragmatic and almost utilitarian in their religious decisions. A good example for this are several [[Thor's Hammer]] with engraved crosses, worn as an [[amulet]], that archaeologists have found in Scandinavia.<ref>depicted in Padberg 1998: 128</ref> Why settle for the protection of one God, if you can have two-in-one? Another exemplary event happened during [[Ansgar]]'s second stay in [[Birka]]: A pagan priest demanded from the locals, that they did not participate in the cult of the foreign Christian God. If they did not have enough Gods yet, they should elevate one of their deceased kings, ''[[Erik Refilsson|Erik]]'', to be a God.<ref>Padberg 1998: 121</ref>
The baptism of Clovis I also highlights the [[sacred|sacral]] role of the Germanic king. A Germanic king was not only a [[political]] ruler, but also held the highest religious 'office' for his people.<ref>Padberg 1998, 29; Padberg notes, that this is probably disputed research, but can be affirmed for the northern Germanic area</ref> He was seen as of [[divine]] descent, was the leader of the [[Cult (religious practice)|religious cult]] and was responsible for the fertility of the land and military victory. Accordingly, the conversion of their leader had a strong impact on his people. If he considered it appropriate to adopt the Christian belief, this also was a good idea for them.
Unlike the history of Christianity in the Roman Empire, conversion of the Germanic tribes in general took place "top to bottom",{{Dubious|date=March 2008}} in the sense that missionaries aimed at converting Germanic nobility first,{{Dubious|date=March 2008}} which would then impose their new faith on the general population: This is connected with the sacral position of the [[Germanic king|king]]{{Fact|date=July 2007}} in [[Germanic paganism]]: the king is charged with interacting with the divine on behalf of his people, so that the general population saw nothing wrong with their kings choosing their preferred mode of worship.{{Dubious|date=March 2008}}
Consequently, Christianity had to be made palatable to these Migration Age warlords as a heroic religion of conquerors, a rather straightforward task, considering the military splendour of the [[Roman Empire]].
Thus early Germanic Christianity was presented as an alternative to native [[Germanic paganism]] and elements were syncretized, for examples parallels between [[Woden]] and [[Christ]]. A fine illustration of these tendencies is the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] poem ''[[Dream of the Rood]]'', where Jesus is cast in the heroic model of a Germanic warrior, who faces his death unflinchingly and even eagerly. The [[Cross]], speaking as if it were a member of Christ's band of retainers, accepts its fate as it watches its Creator die, and then explains that Christ's death was not a defeat but a victory. This is in direct correspondence to the Germanic pagan ideals of fealty to one's lord. This tie between the Christian religion and Germanic nobility is perceptible in the German [[Holy Roman Empire]] of the High Middle Ages, and the division from Roman Christianity was latent in the chronic power-struggle between the Emperor and the Pope, known as the [[Investiture Controversy]].
From the [[16th century]] this tension erupted in the [[Protestant Reformation]] (the last German Emperor to be <!--regularly--> crowned by the Pope was [[Maximilian I]] in [[1493]]), which took hold almost exclusively of territories where Germanic languages are spoken ([[Germany]], [[Scandinavia]], Britain), while Romance speaking territories remained Catholic (with the exception of [[Geneva]], where [[Calvinism]] originated).
==List of missionaries==
Christian Missionaries to Germanic peoples:
to the Goths
*[[Ulfilas]] (Gothic, 341-383)
to the Lombards
*[[Severinus of Noricum|Saint Severinus of Noricum]] (5th century)
**[[Eugippus]]
to the Alamanni
*[[Fridolin of Säckingen]]
*[[Columbanus]] (Irish, 6th century)
**[[Saint Gall]]
to the Anglo-Saxons (see [[Anglo-Saxon Christianity]])
*[[Liuhard of Canterbury]] (6th century)
*[[Augustine of Canterbury]] (597-604)
**[[Laurence of Canterbury]]
**[[Mellitus]]
**[[Justus]]
*[[Chad of Mercia]] (7th century)
*[[Saint Honorius]] (7th century)
*[[Aidan of Lindisfarne]] (7th century)
to the Frankish Empire (see [[Hiberno-Scottish mission|Hiberno-Scottish]], [[Anglo-Saxon mission]])
*[[Saint Trudpert]] (Irish, 7th century)
* [[Saint Rumbold]]
*[[Saint Boniface]] (English, 8th century)
**[[Saint Walpurga]], [[Saint Willibald]] and [[Saint Winibald]] (English siblings assisting St Boniface)
*[[Saint Wilfried]]
*[[Saint Willibrord]]
*[[Saint Willehad]]
*[[Saint Lebuin]]
*[[Saint Liudger]]
*[[Saint Ewald]]
*[[Saint Suitbert]] of Kaiserswerth
*[[Saint Pirmin]] (8th century)
*[[Charlemagne]]
to the Bavarians
*[[Saint Corbinian]] (8th century)
to Scandinavia
*[[Ansgar]] (9th century)
*[[Adam of Bremen]] (11th century)
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Lutz E. von Padberg, 1998, ''Die Christianisierung Europas im Mittelalter'', Reclam
*James C. Russell, '' The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity: A Sociohistorical Approach to Religious Transformation'', Oxford University Press (1994), ISBN 0-19-510466-8.
*Richard E. Sullivan, ''The Carolingian Missionary and the Pagan'', Speculum (1953), 705-740.
==See also==
*[[Arianism]]
*''[[Cuius regio, eius religio]]''
*[[Germanic paganism]]
*[[Muspilli]]
*[[Protestant Reformation]]
*[[Christianization of Scandinavia]]
{{Germanic peoples}}
{{Christian History|collapsed}}
[[Category:Christian history by geography or ethnicity|German]]
[[Category:Indo-European mythology]]
[[Category:History of the Germanic peoples]]
[[Category:Investiture Controversy]]
[[Category:Christianity of the Middle Ages]]
[[it:Cristianizzazione dei Germani]]