Athaloc facts for kids
Athaloc was an important religious leader, known as an Archbishop, for the Visigoths. He lived in a city called Narbonne and followed a Christian belief known as Arianism. This was at a time when there were two main Christian groups: the Arians and the Catholics. Athaloc was a top Arian leader in his region, similar to how Catholic leaders were organized.
Contents
Who Was Athaloc?
Athaloc was a key figure in the Visigothic Kingdom during the late 500s. He was the Archbishop of Narbonne, a significant city in what is now France. At this time, the Visigoths, who ruled a large part of Spain and southern France, followed Arianism. This was different from the Catholicism that was becoming more common in other parts of Europe.
A Time of Change
In the year 589, a big change happened. The Visigothic king, Reccared I, decided to switch from Arianism to Catholicism. He announced his conversion to the people, including those in Septimania, the region where Athaloc lived. This change was a huge deal for many people.
The Rebellion Against the King
King Reccared's decision caused a lot of upset among some Arian leaders. Athaloc, along with two powerful counts named Granista and Wildigern, started a rebellion. They wanted to keep Arianism as the main religion and remove King Reccared from power. Their goal was to stop Catholicism from spreading in their kingdom.
Asking for Help
To make their rebellion stronger, Athaloc and the other leaders asked for help. They reached out to Guntram, who was the Frankish king of Burgundy. King Guntram was a Catholic, but he agreed to send an army to help the rebels. This shows how complicated politics and religion were at the time.
The Outcome of the Uprising
The Frankish army, led by a general named Boso, marched to help Athaloc. However, their forces were met by a Visigothic general named Claudius, Duke of Lusitania. Claudius's army defeated the Frankish forces. Sadly, many Catholic people died during this uprising, even though the rebels were Arian. Athaloc was not removed from his position as Archbishop and died peacefully later on. He never changed his beliefs to Catholicism.
See also
In Spanish: Ataloco para niños
- Christianity in France
