Christianization History of the Basques

roman bridge in ascain (azkaine)



medieval stellae collection exhibited @ san telmo museum, donostia

despite christian testimonies , institutional organization, basque christianization slow. basques hung onto own pagan religion , beliefs (later transfigured mythology), , christianized @ par germanic peoples hostile carolingian expansion (8-9th century), such saxons. however, remained slow internal process scholars have extended 15th century.

the christian poet prudentius sings prominent vasconic town of calahorra in work peristephanon (i) written in 5th century, reminding town s one-time pagan vascones of martyrdom gone through in formerly (305). calahorra became episcopal see in 4th century, bishop holding authority on territory extended lands of present-day central rioja (sierra de cameros), bizkaia, Álava, big part of gipuzkoa , navarre. in 5th century, eauze (elusa) attested episcopal see in novempopulania, actual influence of these centres on different domains of society not known.

the collapse of roman empire seems have turned tide. basques not identified anymore roman civilisation , declining urban life after late 5th century, , prevailed on roman urban culture, paganism remained widespread among basques @ least late 7th century , failed mission of saint amandus. however, less century later, no reference made frankish chroniclers basque paganism in frankish assault on basques , aquitanians, despite powerful propaganda value, odo recognised champion of christianity pope.

charlemagne started policy of colonisation in aquitaine , vasconia after submission of both territories in 768-769. enlisting church on side strengthen power in vasconia, restored frankish authority on high pyrenees in 778, divided land between bishops , abbots , began baptize pagan basques of region.

muslim accounts period of umayyad conquest of hispania , beginning of 9th century identify basques magi or pagan wizards , not considered people of book (christians). still in 816, muslim chroniclers attest not far pamplona so-called saltan , knight of pagans , distorted name maybe referring zaldun, literally in basque knight . later muslim historians cite navarrese leaders of 9th century (but not them) holding onto polytheist religious practices , criticize banu qasi allying them.