Récarède Ier

Récarède Ier , known as “the Catholic”, is a king of the Visigoths of Spain of 586 with 601. Wire of the king Léovigild and Goïswinthe, girl of Amalaric, it reaches the throne after a religious serious attack and the execution of her brother Herménégild (585) who had taken the head of the catholic party against the Arianisme of their father. Without disavowing the political work of its predecessor, Récarède continues the wisigothic unification of the kingdom but either in favor of the Arianisme regarded as a Hérésie by the religious authorities, but well under the aegis of the Catholic church. This capital decision in the Histoire of Spain is made under the influence of Léandre (587) before being officialized in IIIe council of Tolède in 589.

Récarède continues the policy of integration and national unit of his/her father. It draws also the conclusions from the rebellion of his brother: the capacity of the king being threatened by the power of the nobility, layman and nun, it undertakes a policy tending to in the case of reconcile all the nobility by making him concessions the laic ones, by converting with Catholicism in the case of the monks. The reign of Récarède can be divided into 2 parts: that which precedes council III by Tolède in 589 or pass the most outstanding facts of its reign, and that which follows it.

A few months after its election, Récarède converts with personal capacity with the Catholicisme. Many rebellions will burst, the desire of noble to take again the capacity often sheltering behind the religious problem. A first revolt bursts has Merida in 587, quickly crushed thanks to the treason of an entreated young person, Vitéric, which will become king a few years later. In 589, a second attempt in the Court, quickly is even controlled. 3rd has as a center Narbonne. Because of intervention of the franques armies, it proves to be a real danger to Récarède. The decisive combat takes place close to Carcassonne and sees the crushing victory of the troops wisigothes.

With the abjuration of the arianism by Récarède to the Council of Tolède a new period for wisigothic Spain opens and its Church, it is what one called the “rebirth isidorienne (Isidore bishop of Seville). Wisigothic monarchy is characterized by a narrow alliance between the king and the Catholic church: “a king, a faith, a law” is already a Spanish currency. Tolède is the religious and political capital kingdom.

Récarède Ier dies in Tolède in December 601.

Random links: