| Saint Hermenegild | |
|---|---|
El Triunfo de San Hermenegildo by Francisco de Herrera (1654) |
|
| Martyr | |
| Born | Toletum, Hispania |
| Died | c. April 13, 586 Hispalis, Hispania |
| Honored in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | April 13 |
| Patronage | Seville, Spain |
Saint Hermenegild or Ermengild (d. April 13, 586) (Spanish: San Hermenegildo, from Gothic Ermen Gild, "immense tribute"), was the son of king Leovigild of Visigothic Spain. He fell out with his father in 579, then revolted the following year. During his rebellion, he converted from Arian Christianity to Roman Catholicism. Hermenegild was defeated in 584, and exiled.[1] His death was later celebrated as a martyrdom due to the influence of Pope Gregory the Great's Dialogues, in which he portrayed Hermenegild as a "Catholic martyr rebelling against the tyranny of an Arian father."[2]
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Hermenegild was the son of King Leovigild and brother to Reccared. He was brought up in the Arian belief, but married Ingunthis (the daughter of the Frankish King Sigebert I of Austrasia), who was a Catholic. Ingunthis was pressured by Hermenegild's stepmother Goiswintha to abjure her beliefs, but she stayed firm in her faith.[3]
Under Ingunthis's influence, and that of Leander of Seville, 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, but sent Reccared instead inside to speak with Hermenegild and to offer peace. This was accepted, and peace was made for some time.
Goiswintha, 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.
During his captivity in the tower of Seville, an Arian bishop was sent to St. Hermenegild during the Easter Season, but he would not accept Holy Communion from the hands of that prelate.[4] King Leovigild ordered him to be killed, and the axemen found him to be resigned to this end. He was martyred on April 13, 586.
The later conversion of King Reccared to Catholicism has been attributed to his brother's (Hermenegild's) intercession.