Recceswinth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Recceswinth [1], or Reccesuinth, Recceswint, Reccaswinth, Recdeswinth, Recesvinto (Spanish and Portuguese), Reccesvinthus (Latin); was the Visigothic King of Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula) from 649–672: jointly with his father from 649 and as sole king from 653.
Beginning in 654 Recceswinth was responsible for the promulgation of a law code to replace the Breviary of Alaric; he placed a Visigothic common law over both Goths and Hispano-Romans in the kingdom. However, this Liber Judiciorum showed little Germanic influence, adhering more closely to the old Roman laws.
Moreover, the church councils in the capital became the most powerful force in the government and the bishops the primary support of the monarchy. Will Durant writes in The Age of Faith: "By their superior education and organization they dominated the nobles who sat with them in the ruling councils of Toledo; and though the king's authority was theoretically absolute, and he chose the bishops, these councils elected him, and exacted pledges of policy in advance."
[edit] References
- ^ It is spelled Recceswinth in the Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 7, p.328: "Liber Judiciorum". Chicago, 1989.
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Preceded by Chindasuinth |
King of the Visigoths 649 – 672 with Chindasuinth (649 – 653) |
Succeeded by Wamba |