HERMENEGILD

Saint 'Hermenegild' (ca. 564 - 13 April 585), or Saint ''Ermengild'' (from Gothic ''Ermen Gild'': "inmense tribute"), was a member of the Visigoth Royal Family in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal). His ultimate martyrdom was important in the Visigoths conversion from Arianism to Catholicism.

Contents

Life

References

Life

Hermenegild was the son of the King Leovigild and brother to Reccared. He was brought up in the Arian belief, but married Ingund (the daughter of the Frankish King Sigebert I), who was Catholic. Ingund was pressured by Leovigild's wife Goiswinth, but she would not abandon her faith.
Under Ingund's influence, and that of Leander of Seville, Hermenegild was converted to Catholicism. Her family demanded that he return to the Arian faith, but he refused. As a result, he led a revolt against Leovigild. He asked for the aid of the Byzantines, but he was left without aid. After some time he sought sanctuary in a church. Leovigild would not violate the sanctuary, and sent Reccared inside to speak with Hermenegild and offer peace. This was accepted, and peace was made for some time. Goiswinth, however, brought about another alienation within the family. Hermenegild was imprisoned in Tarragona or Toledo. He subjected himself to mortifications, and asked God to aid him in his struggles.
An Arian bishop was sent to Hermenegild at Easter, but he would not accept the heresy. Leovigild ordered him to be murdered, and the axemen found him to be resigned to this end. He was martyred 13 April 585. The later conversion of King Reccared to the Catholicism has been attributed to St Hermenegild's intercession.

References

★ WALSH, Michael, ed. (1991): ''Butler's Lives of the Saints: Concise Edition, Revised and Updated''. Harper. San Francisco, USA. ISBN 0-06-069299-5

★ TOURS, Gregory of (1976): ''A History of the Franks''. Penguin Classics. London, UK. ISBN 0-14-044295-2