Ecclesiastical Factionalism and Religious Controversy in Fifth-Century Gaul

Ecclesiastical Factionalism and Religious Controversy in Fifth-Century Gaul investigates the ways in which influential Gallic ecclesiastics interacted among themselves. These individuals, usually bishops, had a tendency to ally themselves with one another for the pursuit of mutually desirable goals. Very often such "factions" could use their corporate strength to impose their own views of church doctrine and discipline upon their fellows, usually by means of church councils. The author demonstrates how episcopal authority and organization increased as Roman authority decreased. An underlying theme of this book is the fluctuating tenor of the relationship between the bishops of Gaul and the bishop of Rome. The author also discusses the growing involvement of the Germans in church operations as imperial authority declined. Mathisen calls into question many popular beliefs. For example, contrary to the current orthodoxy, the fifth-century Gallic church was not "unified." There were usually conflicts among bishops and factions. Also, there is little evidence that the bishop of Rome had a Gallic "policy." Ecclesiastical Factionalism suggests that Gaul was not a primary concern of the popes, who tended rather either to respond to stimuli from Gaul, mainly disaffected clerics, or to apply to Gaul policies initially meant to be used elsewhere. Mathisen, utilizing the best techniques of modern prosopography, traces these "factions" through¬out the course of the fifth century until the Germanic kingdoms destroyed Gallic ecclesiastical independence. RALPH W. MATHISEN is associate professor of ancient history at the University of South Carolina. He received both his M.A. in classics and his Ph.D. in ancient history from the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the American Philological Association, American Numismatic Society, and the Association of Ancient Historians. While his articles have appeared in numerous publications, Ecclesiastical Factionalism and Religious Controversy in Fifth-Century Gaul is his first book. "This is an important contribution to the study of late antique Gaul and of fifth-century Christianity. The author casts much light on this particularly obscure period by his meticulously careful prosopographical investigation of the bishops and their relations among themselves and helps to correct many current misunderstandings of doctrinal divisions in Western Europe in the fifth century." --R. A. MARK US, FBA, Princeton University "The text presents a very detailed discussion as seen in the light of the best techniques of modern prosopography. Mathisen has done a good job of integrating the bits and pieces into a coherent web. This is clearly a substantial contribution to the study of late antiquity and as such should be consulted by anyone studying the era, particularly those in religion but also all those with a passion for the late Roman aristocracy and its transmutations and survival. There is no comparable book available in English and nothing clearly superior to it in any language." --THOMAS s. BURNS, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of History, Emory University