Isidore's Etymologies - Historical Context

By gadjodilo
  • 557

    Byzantines occupy Cartagena

  • Period: 557 to 636

    557-636

  • 560

    Isidore is born - parents leave for Seville soon after

  • 572

    Leovigild becomes king

    He attempted to redefine Arian doctrine by claiming that Father and Son were eternal, only Holy Spirit is not equal
  • 579

    Hermenigild rebels against his father Leovigild

    Declared himself independent monarch over Southern Peninsula, after marrying Frankish princess Clovis
  • 582

    Hermenigild converts to Catholicism

    Under the influence of Leander, Isidore´s older brother, he converts to Catholicism
  • 584

    Hermenigild exiled to Valencia

    Leovigild managed to take control of the situation.
  • 585

    Hermenigild murdered

  • 586

    Death of Leovigild, his other son, Reccared becomes king

  • 587

    Reccared converts to Catholicism.

    Again, under influence of Leander. R. began process of reassigning Arian churches to Catholic dioceses. Arian bishops were allowed to retain sees, although this meant having two bishops in a single see.
  • 600

    Leander dies. Isidore becomes Archbishop of Seville

    Leander was a personal friend of Pope Gregory I. His friendship with Leovigild´s sons Hermenigild and Reccared was of an important consequence for Spain. It led to the Spanish court´s conversion from Arianism to Catholicism.
  • 602

    601-602 / Reccared dies. Liuva II is King.

  • 603

    Liuva II deposited and murdered by Witteric.

    Witteric was a Gothic noble. Witteric had Liuva´s right hand cut off. By Visigothic tradition, heir to the throne had to be able-bodied.
  • 610

    Witteric assasinated. Gunemar takes throne.

    W. was not popular. Isidore speaks of him with disapproval - others mention injustices. gundemar involved himslef with councils of bishops, like Reccared.
  • 611

    611 - 612 / Gundemar dies. Sisebut is crowned King.

    Sisebut noted for personal piety. He was intellectually active and authored several works. V. involved in activities of church. Anti-Jewish policy - Isidore did not approve of this as he didn´t think it was knowledge based.
  • 613

    Isidore dedicated De Natura Rerum to Sisebut.

  • 621

    Sisebut dies. Reccared II is King.

  • 621

    Reccared II dies shortly after. Suinthila becomes King.

    isidore praised Suinthila.
  • 631

    Suinthila is deposed. Sisenand is king.

    He is deposed by group of Frankish nobles.
  • 636

    Sisenand dies. Isidore dies.