Description
Book SynopsisGallaecia Gothica offers a new interpretation of the Argimundus rebellion, one of the most difficult challenges of Reccared’s reign. There are no specific details of how the conspiracy came about, but the throne was seriously threatened. The Chronicle of John of Biclaro underlined the gravity of this menace in his description of the punishment suffered by the rebel and his collaborators. His categorical condemnation of the attempted overthrow of the monarch is unlike that given to any other uprising narrated in the Chronicle, and it shows the importance that the abbot of Biclaro gave it in his narration.
The fact that the Chronicle notes that Argimundus was not only a member of the
Aula Regia but also a
dux prouinciae (duke of a province), combined with the status of Gallaecia as a newly conquered province, suggests that this was not just a palace conspiracy, but a genuine provincial revolt which could have ruined the political settlement established by Leovigild and Reccared. However, it is difficult to prove Argimundus’ ultimate aim: to replace Reccared on the Visigothic throne or, on the contrary, to restore the old Suevic kingdom in Gallaecia. This book uses numismatic and archaeological evidence seems to suggest the latter view.
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Conspirators and Conspiracies in the Reign of Reccared
Interpreting the Plot of Argimundus
The Scene of the Rebellion
Possible Suevian Origin of Argimundus
Argimundus and Paulus: Parallel Lives of Two Usurpers in Visigothic Spain
Gallaecia during the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo: From Submission to Conquest
The Rise of the Duchy of Gallaecia: Resurgence of Local Aristocracies and Struggling for Real Power
Conclusion: From the Suevic Kingdom to the Duchy of Gallaecia
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