History September

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SEPTEMBER

History Lectures
The Fall of Rome
In the historical lecture series, we briefly cover the height of Rome – 70 AD, followed by the slow fade and conversion of the Pagan Empire to Christendom. What caused the Fall of Rome? Many things, the endless wars, and conflicts, the deaths of many Caesars, the corruption and the battles for power within the Roman Legions, until the rise of Odovacar, the Germanic Barbarians, when in 376 AD they united with all the Celtic Tribes and put the Roman Military Empire at last to rest. This was the Battle of Marcianople – the Gothic Wars 376AD -382AD.

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Early Christianity through Early Medieval
Throughout September, October, November, and December, many of the events and topics in the lecture series cover pre-Christian Celts as it seeps into Rome, developing what is known as the Medieval Period. Often called the Dark Ages, we experience this darkness during the seasonal changes, as nature falls asleep into winter.

From the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church, Christendom spread into the South and Western edges of the Roman Empire. With the crowning of Constantine the Great, 310 AD, he became the first Christian Emperor of Rome, creating what we now know as the Holy Roman Empire. As the power of Rome began to fall, in 376, the Celtic Barbarians defeated Rome once and for all. Yet, despite Rome’s defeat Theodosius The Great, 379 AD to 395 AD, emerged as Emperor of Rome. He solidified Christianity, pushing forward Constantine’s dream of making Constantinople the seat of Christendom. His religion spread seeping throughout all the Celtic lands, thus converting the Barbarian tribes in the north to Christianity.

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The Fall of Rome and The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages serves as an overlap between the decline of Rome and the emergence of Christianity and The Byzantine – Romaioi Empire. After 70 AD, the destruction of the Temple, Rome began to see its decline. An Empire too large to manage, full of corruption, waste, and degeneracy. Killing the current ruler was expected with each new Caesar.

The cost of running an Empire under economic waste and mismanagement of funds required the constant raising of taxes, this angered the citizens of Rome. When soldiers could no longer be paid, they refused to fight and guard the Empire. They split and sided with Generals who offered soldiers grain and lands to seize power, and they did this by simply taking them. The game for power, through assassinations and wars between troops, was endless. By 376 AD, Rome was in such a weakened state militarily that the Northern Barbarians were able to unite and defeated them. They took back what Julius Caesar tamed, what Rome under Augustus Caesar managed and prospered greatly from, until all that was left of the city of Rome itself lay waste to a small sect calling themselves, Disciples of Christ, Christian.

Medieval Period
Between 376 AD through 600 AD, what was left of the Roman Empire hung by a thread. We travel through the life of Constantine, 306 AD – 337 AD. He established Homousian Christianity under Roman Rule. Theodosius, 379 AD – 395 AD, solidified the establishment and transition of a Christian Empire. Justinian The Great, 527 through 565, saw the dream of the Byzantine – RomaioiEmperor come to pass.

From the 6th century onward, Christianity grew and struggled throughout the end of the Roman Empire and the establishment of Christianity until Charles the Great, Carolus Magnus, Charlemagne, 747 AD – 814 AD. He ruled over the Carolingian Dynasty, was the King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, the First Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne united the West and Central Lands north of Rome, and he called these lands, Europe. Charlemagne, known as the “Father of Europe.”

The Dark Ages Vs Medieval
This period is understood to exist from 476 AD through 1000 AD.

From the growth of Christianity through the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the East, and throughout history, there is overlap between the ages and how knowledge spreads.

Tiberius, (14 BC – 37 AD – Ruthless, paranoid emperor’s rule fuels economic strife, set the stage for chaos. igniting Roman decline.

Jesus The Nazarene, 0AD ~ 33AD – Baptize in the Jordan by John where the Christ Being entered a human body, He was Crucifixion by the will of the Jews. His movement and Apostles spark a revolutionary aith. These early Christians movement became known as Christianity.

Year of the Four Emperors
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Caesar, 37-68AD – Emperor, faced with a civil war.
Servius Sulpicius Galba. 24-69AD – Governor of Hispania.
Marcus Salvius Otho, 32-AD – Governor of Lusitania.
Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, 24-69AD –

Christian Martyrs and Lions ~64–100 AD, Nero’s persecutions forge Christian resilience.

Year of the Four Emperors
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Caesar, 37-68AD – Emperor, Faced with a civil war.
Servius Sulpicius Galba, 24-69AD – Governor of Hispania.
Marcus Salvius Otho, 32-AD – Governor of Lusitania.
Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, 24-69AD – Historian.

Apostates and Heresies ~64–325AD Persecution sparks renunciations.

Lions ~64–100 AD – Nero’s persecutions forge Christian resilience.

Clement I ~88–99 AD, 1st Apostate Early pope, martyr, anchors Rome’s church.

The Raising of the Temple 70 AD – Jews started a conflict with Rome that led to a war. Leader of Rome Titus, and Rome were tired of the terror an conflict and went into the Judea to put down the rebellion down and restore Roman authority in the province of Judea

The Revolt – The conflict grew into a full-scale war, with the Romans determined to put down the rebellion and restore Roman authority by rising the city in the province of Judea.

[the Jew were a group of Canaanite people in the Middle east, their origins were a mix of Babylonian and Egyptian. They were lead to Mt. Sini in the Middle East by a man named Moses. He met with the God of the Jews who set laws for the people to follow. The people disregarded the laws and their promises. Their God Yahwah exiled from the land of Israel as a divine punishment for their repeated disobedience and unfaithfulness, particularly their idolatry and failure to uphold the covenant. This judgment, exemplified by the Babylonian captivity, served as a consequence for their sinful actions and a means to correct their ways, with God promising a return after the land had “rested”. The real jews are still waiting.]

Hadrian’s Suppression, 135 AD – Bar Kokhba Revolt crushed, Jewish identity reshaped. Mossad.

The Middle Ages [Medieval] are divided into three parts.
I. The Early Middle Age, 400 AD – 1000 AD. Also considered part of the Dark Ages and the establishment of Christianity and the formation of Western and Central Europe.
II. The High Middle Ages, 900 AD – 1250 AD. The embracing of Feudalism. The Emergence of Kings and Queens.
III. The Late Middle Ages, 1300 AD – 1600 AD. Ushering in The Age of Discovery and The Renaissance, New Birth.

Philosophy – Key Areas Constantine’s Ideology, 325 AD – Nicaea Council codifies Christian doctrine.

Constantine’s Christian Pivot, 310–337 AD – Milvian Bridge vision, Edict of Milan, Christianity rises.

Constantine’s Conversion.

Constantine the Great – Flavius Valerius Constantinus, Born 27 February 272 Nicomedia [Serbia] – Died 22 May 337. Bithynia . First Christian Roman Emperor. Founded

Biography, Augustine’s Theology, 354–430 AD – Confessions. City of God ,redefine sin. Doctor of grace.

Apostates and Heresies ~64–325 AD – Gnostic debates.

List of Apostates

Byzantine- Romaioi Empire through the Dark Ages

Byzantium – Romaioi – New Rome

Theodosius I, Theodosius the Great, Born 11 January 347 – Died 17 January 395.

Justinian I, – Justinian the Great, Born unknown 482 – Died 14 November 565.
Under Justinian’s rule, he brought an end to the Mithraic Mysteries. He declared the writings of Origen heretical, abolished the Roman Consul, closed the School of Athens, and preferred the University of Constantinople. In doing so, Justinian sidelined all the ancient wisdom passed down from the Greco-Roman Empire, ushering in what later became known as the Dark Ages. All occult and esoteric meanings under Justinian replaced old wisdom with fact-based, materialistic descriptions of the world, including the life of Christ.

Justinian I found himself pushing the faithful forward while sewing up the past. A New World Order. The battle for the souls of a changing empire, the material vs. the spiritual. He expanded the Byzantine = Romaioi Culture while watching parts of the Roman Empire pull away. Still, Justinian I sought to keep and bring the fraying edges of the Roman Empire back into the fold. As a result, Justinian I is often regarded as the Last Roman.

From Augustine to Charlemagne –

Augustine of Hippo, 13 November 354 – 28 August 430. Theologian and Philosopher. Bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa, [Now Annaba, Algeria]. Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period, [100AD – 451AD]. The Revision of the Old Testament is attributed to Augustine. He was an important Doctor of the Church

Childhood – His Father, Aurelius, was a Roman Pagan and Patrician, which made him and his family akin to upper middle class. Yet, his origins were modest, his ancestors were people from freed slave. His Mother, a Berber, was a devout Christian. She had three children who survived infancy: two sons, Augustine, Navigius, and a daughter Perpetua. She called her eldest, ‘the son of so many tears.’ Hundreds of years later, she became the Saint of all Mothers, St Monica. So many tears a mother cries over her children.

Just before he went off to school to study philosophy Augustine’s father, Aurelius, suddenly died. He was 17. His father was a brutal man, he beat his wife often, but it seems he did this because she would often spend the money on the poor. However, Augustine recollects, in his book Confessions, that his father deeply respected his mother.

Though Augustine was exposed to his mother Christian beliefs he went his own way. He became part of the *Manichaeism Cult, which had a resurgence and spread to this area of the world. Discovering that Augustine took up this practice angered his mother greatly. This created a riff between the two causing a falling out. She threw him out of her house determine never to see him again.

Augustine studied philosophy and rhetoric at the university in Carthage. He became an a professor of rhetoric and an intellectual. He was also a scamp and a sinful man, had a child out of wedlock. He was very fond of wine, women and song. One of his most memorable quotes is, “Lord make me chaste, but not yet!” He wrote about his all his exploits, in his book Confessions.

After he had separated from his mother for a time, she had a vision, this has since been called, ‘a Mother’s Vision.’ In this vision she had reunited with her son and was told to take him to Milan to see the Bishop. Amends were made, and he followed her to Milan, with the impression that he would study with Ambrosia, the Bishop of Milan.

Upon arriving Monica found immediate favor with the Bishop due to her work with the poor and battered woman. Augustine now 28 years old, was still very full of himself, well educated in his studies of philosophy and being what he thought to be a worldly man, in the matters of life. He approached the Bishop as if he were someone to compete with, yet the Bishop was nothing, but kind and patient with Augustine, having wonderful conversation and offering books to read on the Christian doctrine. Most, if not all, Augustine ignored.

So, how did it come about? It was really a very simple act. One afternoon, sitting in his garden he overheard children singing ‘Take up and read! Take up and read!’ He became inwardly convinced inwardly by the Spirit that he should read the Christian New Testament. He began by reading Paul’s letter to the Romans. At that moment he received a powerful revelation of God’s grace in the gospel and he simply converted. All his studies, life experiences and even the taking on the teaching of Mani did not compared to what he found in the New Testament. He then became the most zealous exponent of grace in this era. At the age of 33, the Bishop baptized Augustine at the church of St. John the Baptist in Milan, making him a Doctor of Theology and a Doctor of Grace. Augustine settled in Hippo where he became Bishop turning the Bishop’s home into a monastery.

“The reward for patience is, patience.” -Augustine of Hippo

What Augustine brought with him to Milan was his understanding of philosophy, particularly +Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism] and his practice and ideas of Manichaeism. This spiritual evolution for Augustine Combining the material with the logical and the spirit living in Christianity is what Augustine found and this helped him create the foundation and theology of the Latin Catholic Church today.

Augustine wrote the Doctrine and Foundation of the Catholic Church

Books
The City of God, from Rome to Heaven
The Confessions of Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, By Saint Augustine

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+It is wise to mention that Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism] was different during this particular time, compared to the reemergence later in the 13th century. Without going too deep into how Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism]was viewed by Augustine he found a connection to Christianity through Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism], and if you read his writings he developed regarding the church doctrine you will see the ideas of Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism] throughout. This is noted in his book, Confessions.

*Manichaeism 3c AD, Persia, was against Roman Paganism and the view of the Jewish Torah, OT. Two waves of Manichaeism – early and late middle ages, called Neo-Manichaeism. There is no dualism in Manichaeism, it is in a sense bi-polar neither good nor evil, all has purpose and non purpose. There is spirit in everything – the counter to Manichaeism is skepticism. Though Augustine adopted the teaching of Manichaeism, in the end he rejected the practice.

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[tbc]
what he brings to the church is definition. The documentation of his life also allows us to get an in-depth look at the time of the world around him. A better understanding of the church and the conversion of many Pagans to Christianity.

His work can be difficult to follow, as he moves from what is difficult to understand of the past moving forward into the the future and the modern idea of Christianity. Augustine took ancient thought and in so defining he translated the bible into the language of the church in Latin.

Nature of Evil

Manichaeism Dualism – pre Christian ideals, the spiritual is manifested through the material, good and evil influences. materializing of the spirit.

Manichaeism made Augustine aware of evil, opening the door to have a better understanding of St Paul.

Manichaeism sense manifestation

Augustine jumped forward (like puberty) from the material spiritual to the spiritual

Skepticism through observation of the sense world he learns nothing of the spiritual. Void of the spiritual removes all truth the doubt of the truth longs to be understood which leads to

Neo Platonism [Late-Platonism] – Plotinus’ doctrine that the soul is composed of a higher and a lower part — the higher part being unchangeable and divine (and aloof from the lower part, yet providing the lower part with life), while the lower part is the seat of the personality (and hence the passions and vices) — led him to neglect an ethics of the individual human being in favor of a mystical or esoteric doctrine of the soul’s ascent to union with its higher part.
above the world is ideas – abject unity – the world of the soul – the lower and higher soul creates the material – above the soul is the spiritual. the concept of ideas. The next Imagination, no concepts, above the idea world

Neoplatonism

imagination – above the idea world

inspiration

intuition

probation

enlightenment

initiation

Plotinus perception – reality is the spiritual world.
This led Augustine to Christianity
for man does not need to reach upwards for Christi Jesus has descended upon the earth

It was Plotinus – Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism] that had the greatest affect on Augustine and his view on Christianity.. Since the earliest doctrine of the Catholic Latin Church was Augustine we can say that Christianity is a form of Neoplatonism [Late-Platonism]. Even later when Christianity was revised it falls in line with Np. And seeing that the Greeks were fist in translation of the gospels and the Gospels were written originally in Greek we can pin point the organization and layout of the Christian bible and doctrine

All the books of the New Testament were written originally in Greek. The Latin translation of the Bible written by St. Jerome, who was asked by Pope Damasus in 382 A.D. to bring order out of the proliferation of Old Latin versions which were in circulation.

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Late Antiquity & Early Middle Ages (476–1000)

Romulus Augustulus
TITLE: Last Western Roman Emperor
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Monarch (Puppet Emperor)
FULL NAME: Flavius Romulus Augustus
BIRTH: c. 460 – Western Roman Empire
DEATH: After 476 (possibly c. 507) – Campania, Italy
PARENTS: Orestes (father), mother unknown
SIBLINGS: Unknown
EDUCATION: Unknown (likely educated in Roman tradition)
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Roman Paganism transitioning to Christianity
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Last nominal emperor of the Western Roman Empire; his deposition marks the traditional end of ancient Rome
AFFILIATIONS: Western Roman Empire
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: 475–476
SPOUSES: None recorded
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: None recorded
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None recorded
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: None (Western Empire ended; Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno nominally ruled)
WORKS/BOOKS: None known
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Imperial Roman insignia
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Odoacer (Germanic general who deposed him), Emperor Zeno
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Symbol of the fall of the Western Roman Empire and beginning of the Middle Ages
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “He bore the name of Rome’s founder and her first emperor — but wielded none of their power.”

Theodoric the Great
TITLE: King of the Ostrogoths; Ruler of Italy
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Warrior-King; Administrator
FULL NAME: Flavius Theodoricus
BIRTH: c. 454 – Pannonia (modern Hungary)
DEATH: 526 – Ravenna, Italy
PARENTS: Theodemir (father), unknown mother
SIBLINGS: Amalafrida (sister)
EDUCATION: Military and Gothic tribal traditions
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Arian Christianity
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Reunified Italy after the fall of Rome; preserved Roman culture and law; built monuments in Ravenna
AFFILIATIONS: Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: 493–526
SPOUSES: Audofleda (Frankish princess)
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: Amalasuntha
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None recorded
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: Athalaric (grandson, through Amalasuntha)
WORKS/BOOKS: None known
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Gothic insignia; Ravenna mosaics
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Emperor Justinian I, Odoacer
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Maintained Roman traditions in Italy; stabilized post-Roman order; remembered as a just ruler
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Nothing in the world is more honorable than loyalty.”

Boethius
TITLE: Philosopher; Roman Senator
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Philosopher, Theologian, Translator
FULL NAME: Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius
BIRTH: c. 480 – Rome, Italy
DEATH: c. 524 – Pavia, Italy (executed)
PARENTS: Manlius Boethius (father), mother unknown
SIBLINGS: Unknown
EDUCATION: Classical Roman education; studied philosophy and rhetoric
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Christian Neoplatonism
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Author of The Consolation of Philosophy; translated Aristotle’s works into Latin; bridged classical and medieval philosophy
AFFILIATIONS: Roman Senate; advisor under Ostrogothic rule
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: Early 6th century
SPOUSES: Rusticiana (daughter of Symmachus)
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: Two sons (both became consuls)
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None recorded
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: N/A
WORKS/BOOKS: The Consolation of Philosophy
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Roman senatorial insignia
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Theodoric the Great (ruler who ordered his execution)
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Influential in medieval Christian philosophy and scholasticism; regarded as a key transitional thinker
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Nothing is miserable unless you think it so.”

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Cassiodorus
TITLE: Roman Statesman; Scholar; Writer
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Politician, Writer, Monastic Founder
FULL NAME: Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator
BIRTH: c. 485 – Scylletium, Calabria, Italy
DEATH: c. 585 – Vivarium monastery, Italy
PARENTS: Unknown
SIBLINGS: Unknown
EDUCATION: Classical Roman education; law and rhetoric
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Christianity
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Served as a high-ranking official under Ostrogothic kings; founded the Vivarium monastery; preserved Roman literary tradition; promoted copying and study of classical texts
AFFILIATIONS: Ostrogothic Kingdom; Vivarium Monastery
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: Early to mid-6th century
SPOUSES: Unknown
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: Unknown
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None known
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: N/A
WORKS/BOOKS: Institutiones divinarum et saecularium literarum (Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning)
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Roman senatorial insignia
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Boethius, Theodoric the Great
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Key figure in preserving classical knowledge during early Middle Ages; influenced medieval monastic scholarship
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Let nothing be preferred to the service of the soul.”

Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great)
TITLE: Pope of the Roman Catholic Church
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Religious Leader; Reformer
FULL NAME: Gregorius I
BIRTH: c. 540 – Rome, Italy
DEATH: 604 – Rome, Italy
PARENTS: Gordianus (father), Silvia (mother)
SIBLINGS: None recorded
EDUCATION: Classical Roman education; theology
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Christian (Catholic)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Major church reforms; strengthened papal authority; sent missionaries to convert Anglo-Saxons; compiled Gregorian Chant
AFFILIATIONS: Roman Catholic Church
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: 590–604
SPOUSES: None (clerical celibacy)
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: None
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: Sabinian
WORKS/BOOKS: Various sermons, letters, and church instructions
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Papal cross and keys
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Byzantine Emperor Maurice, Lombard Kings
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Considered a Doctor of the Church; shaped medieval papacy; missionary work shaped European Christianity
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “The pastures of the Lord are rich beyond all telling.”

Alboin
TITLE: King of the Lombards
PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Monarch; Warrior King
FULL NAME: Alboin
BIRTH: c. 530 – likely in the Danube region
DEATH: 572 – Northern Italy
PARENTS: Audoin (father), unknown mother
SIBLINGS: Unknown
EDUCATION: Warrior training typical of Lombard nobility
PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION: Arian Christianity (likely), later converted to Catholicism
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Led Lombards into Italy in 568; established Lombard Kingdom in Italy; defeated Byzantine forces in northern Italy
AFFILIATIONS: Lombard Kingdom
YEARS OF RULE OR VOCATION: 568–572
SPOUSES: Rosamund (daughter of Gepid King Cunimund)
CHILDREN IN WEDLOCK: Unknown
OUT OF WEDLOCK: None known
NAME OF SUCCESSOR: Cleph
WORKS/BOOKS: None known
SYMBOL/EMBLEM: Lombard royal insignia (ancient symbols)
CONTEMPORARIES/RIVALS: Byzantine Emperor Justin II, Gepid Kingdom
LEGACY/INFLUENCE: Founder of the Lombard Kingdom in Italy, initiating Germanic rule in northern Italy that lasted for centuries
MEMORABLE QUOTE: “A warrior’s path leads to the crown of victory.”

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The Four Catholic Fathers
Catholic means Universal in Greek –katholikos [κατ’ ολόν], hard for Christianity to get away from God’s global roots & mission. There are four church fathers who desnd from the first Pope Peter that set the foundation of the Catholic church.

Ambrose * [340] Spent his life fighting Arianism similar , but distinct from the Gnostics..

Jerome *. [347] Jerome spent his old age picking apart and adding to Augustine’s work.

Augustine *** [354] There isn’t a Christian religion that doesn’t agree, believe or follow Augustine’s contributions, he was, after all, the man who organized the Church, including both books; which at the time were only two Gospels. It’s important to know that before Augustine was the Bishop of Hippo and even after he was a (Neo) Platonist following the understandings of Plato through Plotinus . The whole church is organized and structured on the philosophy of Platonism. However, what crowns the Catholic Church, according to Augustine after Christ came to him in a vision, he realized that philosophy was not enough without Christ in your heart.

Two important books by Augustine of Hippo: Confessions, a biography, and City of God. Augustine’s City of God portrays human history as a conflict between the Earthly City, where people pursue fleeting worldly pleasures, and the City of God, where individuals dedicate themselves to eternal Christian truths, destined to triumph. Confessions is a very open and candied telling of the Life of Augustine from childhood through adulthood as a reprobate. The book also recounts how Augustine went from Manicheism to Platonism then becoming a dedicated servant of God through the lord Jesus Christ.

Gregory** [540] Gregory suffered through the bubonic plague in the Byzantium Empire. The plagues decreased the population by 1/3, this was deviating, no one was untouched by this tragedy. This one event help turn the church’s focus from Empire to concern and becoming a vessel for the poor.

All of these men had great flaws, but found their mission in God and the church. Agree or disagree with their ideas, but there’s noi denying their aim was true.

These men of the church shaped Europe. without the Holy Roman Catholic Church Europe would look very different and if we are not careful we could lose site of our roots and our home.

Byzantine- Romaioi Empire through the Dark Ages

Byzantium – Romaioi – New Rome

Theodosius I, Theodosius the Great, Born 11 January 347 – Died 17 January 395.

Gnostics

Trinity

being

knowing

living/love

Father being

Son idea world knowing the son

HG life lose willing

through Plotinus

Our hearts are made for you oh lord, and they are restless, until they rest in you. – St. Augustine

Counsel of Carthage

Concupiscence – Why Jesus matters

Original Sin – Adam and Eve

Faith and Power of God

Doctor of Grace

Death & Patron Saint – Printers, .His celebration is his death day

Prayer to God
Late have I loved you,
Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!
Lo, you were within,
but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made
I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
They held me back far from you,
those things which would have no being,
were they not in you.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;
you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;
you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you;
I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;
you touched me, and I burned for your peace.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Spoken in all Christian Sects

Manichaeism will be covered during Great Mysteries in January.
[tbc]

Biography Atilla The Hun – God’s Punishments, Flagella Dei – The Scourge of God 406–453. Ruler of the Huns, 434 – 453. Leader of a nomadic warrior tribal cultural empire. His people were called Huns, Hunie. Anyone willing to fight could join his tribe. Ostrogoths, Alans, Bulgars anyone who lived in Central and Eastern Europe. During his reign, he was the most feared enemy of the Western and Eastern Rome and the Northern Barbarian Empires. All knowledge of Atilla and his people come from the accounts of his enemies. He, and those who followed were thought of as the most savage men that ever lived, feral, while beasts. They were known as Nomads. The reputation of the Huns and their horses was legendary. Most people who encountered them thought they were part man part horse for they seldom dismounted. They ate, slept, carved their arrows and bow on their horses. Their horse were also larger, stronger, faster and healthier than all others tribes they encountered. The Women of the tribe were pulled in wagons. they had no permanent home and the camp moved every few days. They also took what they wanted, when they wanted, where ever they went. Raids were frequent, people fled further west or south and eventually, deals were made to pay off the Hun and his men.

Childhood – There are no records of his birth, but it was thought he was born in the Volga Region. His mother died during birth and father two years later. He and his brother were raised by their uncle. It is said Atilla learned to ride a horse before he learned to walk. When their uncle die the Tribe was was ruled by both brothers. However that did not last long, it is said he killed his brother in his sleeps.

Leader of the Huns – He was a man born into the world to shake the nations, the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all mankind by the rumors noised abroad concerning him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed a lover of war, yet restrained in action; mighty in counsel, gracious to, and lenient to those who were once received under his protection. He was short of stature, with a broad chest and a large head; his eyes were small, his beard was thin and sprinkled with gray. He had a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, revealing his origin.

He took control over the tribe, which was said to be over 500,000 men. Once Atilla crossed the Danube the terror never stopped. He ands his men swept across What is now Western Europe and he even reached as far south as Constantinople. He and his tribe settled into what is now Hungry.

Battle of the Catalonian Planes 451AD – This is where Atilla met his match.

Death – 453AD – This was not a pretty death.

entr’acte

The Bavarians had allied themselves with the Avars, a people who may be called the successors of the Huns. Charles was victorious in this struggle and fortified a strip of land as a boundary against the Avars, the original Avarian limit of the land which to-day is Austria. In the same way he had protected himself also against the Danes.

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Who were the Franks?
According to Rome, the Franks were part of the Germanic tribes who lived on the northern edges of the Roman Empire; Northern and Middle Rhine. Today, lower Netherlands, and the border between France and Germany. A treaty was signed between these tribes, mostly Franks, and the Romans. Many of the Frankish tribal men even fought for Rome. At once point the Franks became the largest contingency in the Roman Army. As Rome’s power faded their strength in the region grew.

After 376AD, Rome collapsed, the tribes began to move into the lower lands Rome could no longer defend. As the tribes took over and settled in, they fought amongst themselves. In 406AD, Atilla the Hun [Volga, Russia] invaded Gaul. This attack united all of Gaulia, Franks, and the Visigoth tribes, and what was left of Rome. It was the first defeat for Atilla. He died 2 years later.

In 463AD, under the Frankish leader Childeric he and the Franks fought for Rome. In particular, at the Battle of Orleans against the Visigoths, and again he defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Angier, 469AD. He soon expanded his power throughout Gaul, as Rome continued to fade. In 476AD Romulus Augustus, Emperor of Rome, was defeated by Odoacer, a general in one of the Germanic tribe. Odoacer, became the First King of Italy. In 480AD Childeric died and his son Clovis, ᚺᛚᛟᛞᛟᚹᛁᚷ (runic), Hlōdowik, [Today, Louis], at age 15, became leader of the Franks. Rome’s leadership gone, in order to unite all of Gaul Clovis needed to defeat the Roman Governor Syagrius. At age 20 Clovis soundly defeated him in the Battle of Soissons 486AD. Soon he conquered all of Gaul, and powerful enough to keep his enemies at bay. In 496 he converted to Catholicism at the behest of his wife. Baptized on Christmas Day in 508AD. Clovis is declared the King of all the Franks 509AD. He died 511 AD.

The Franks
Childeric
Battle of Orleans

376AD, Rome collapsed,.
Battle of Angier

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Rome’s leadership gone, in order to unite all of Gaul Clovis needed to defeat the Roman Governor Syagrius. At age 20 Clovis soundly defeated him in the Battle of Soissons 486AD. Soon he conquered all of Gaul, and powerful enough to keep his enemies at bay. In 496 he converted to Catholicism at the behest of his wife. Baptized on Christmas Day in 508AD. Clovis is declared the King of all the Franks 509AD. He died 511 AD.

How Tribes transformed into Kingdoms.

By the death of Clovis, the Franks had comfortably conquered all of Gaulia, uniting the tribal lands once controlled by Rome. The Franks, under the leadership of King Clovis I, was the most successful. The people in these lands conquered never rose against him. They accepted Clovis I, as their ruler, and the name of his tribal people, the Franks, Frankia. Today, The French.

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476AD Romulus Augustus, Last Emperor of Rome, Odoacer of the Germanic tribes became the First King of Italy

How Tribes transformed into Kingdoms.

From Clovis to Martel –

Pepin of Herstal –

Charles Martel – Merovingian Dynasty
Title – Charles Martel – “The Hammer”

Occupation & Role Frankish ruler, military leader.

Birth/Death c. 688, Herstal, Francia– October 22, 741 , Quierzy-sur-Oise, Francia

Parents: Pepin of Herstal, Alpaida
Siblings: many half-siblings
Spouses: 1st Wife -Rotrude of Trier – 2nd Wife: Princess Swanachild (Bavarian )

Children: Carloman, Pepin the Short, Grifo, Hiltrud, Landrade, Auda, and others
Most Memorable Accomplishment(s): Victory at the Battle of Tours (732); strengthening Frankish unity under his leadership; laying foundations for Carolingian dynasty
Years of Rule & Accomplishment: Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (717–741); de facto ruler of the Franks, though not a king
Successor: Pepin the Short (his son, later King of the Franks)
Memorable Quote: “It was through battle and arms that I secured my power.” (attributed sentiment, not a direct contemporary quotation)
Works: None authored; legacy preserved through chronicles such as Einhard and the Continuations of Fredegar.