Chararic (Suebian king) facts for kids

Chararic was a king of the Suebi in what is now parts of Spain and Portugal. He ruled around the years 550 to 558 or 559. Most of what we know about King Chararic comes from the writings of a historian named Gregory of Tours.

Chararic: A King's Story

During Chararic's time, a serious skin disease was common in Galicia. Sadly, the king's own son became very ill with it. At this time, the Suebi people followed a Christian belief called Arianism. But Chararic had heard about a famous saint named Martin of Tours.

The King's Son and a Miracle

King Chararic made a promise: if his son could be cured, he would accept the beliefs of Saint Martin. So, he sent people to Tours (in modern-day France) to bring back some special items, called relics, from Saint Martin. When these relics arrived in Galicia, a miracle happened! His son was healed through the help of Saint Martin.

A New Faith for the Kingdom

Because of this miracle, Chararic and his entire royal family changed their faith. They converted to the Nicene Christian faith, which is what most Christians believe today. Gregory of Tours also wrote that on the very same day Martin's relics arrived, another ship landed. On it was Martin of Dumio, who would later become an important archbishop and saint in Braga. However, historians think it's unlikely both arrived on the exact same day, as they traveled from different places.

What Historians Say

Modern historians have looked closely at Gregory's story. It doesn't quite match other historical records about how the Suebi people became Catholic. These other records come from people like Isidore of Seville and John of Biclaro.

Historians have different ideas about the kings involved in the Suebi's conversion. These kings include Chararic, Theodemir, and Ariamir. Some historians believe Chararic was converted first. Others think he might have been a successor to Ariamir, who was the first Suebic king to allow Catholic church meetings. Some even wonder if Chararic and Theodemir were the same person, or if Chararic never existed at all and was just a mistake in Gregory's writings.

Chararic's Legacy

Even with these historical questions, Chararic is known for bringing the worship of Saint Martin of Tours to Galicia. He made Saint Martin the "special protector" of the region. King Chararic died sometime between May 2, 558, and May 1, 559. After him, Ariamir became the new king.

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