Hermenegild
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Saint Hermenegild (d. 13 April 585 AD), or Saint Ermengild (from Germanic Ermen Gild: "inmense tribute"), was a member of the Visigoth Royal Family in Spain, important in the nation's conversion to the Catholic faith. St 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 Sigibert), 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 St Leander, St Hermenegild was converted to Catholicism. His 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 St Hermenegild and offer peace. This was accepted, and peace was made for some time. Goiswinth, however, brought about another alienation within the family. St 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 St 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 Reccared to the non-Arianism has been attributed to St Hermenegild's intercession.
[edit] 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
