Ajax (missionary)
Encyclopedia
Ajax was an Arian
missionary to the pagan
Suevi of Galicia
who converted them to Christianity
in 464 or 466.
Due in part to his unusual Homer
ic name his origins have been debated. The contemporary chronicler Hydatius
, the Catholic bishop of Aquae Flaviae
, refers to him as Aiax natione Galata. "Galata" may refer to either a Galician, Gaul
, or Galatia
n. It is doubtful that he was the first, since Hydatius would have called him Gallaeci. It is sometimes assumed that "Galata" is a way to refer to a Greek from the East (i.e. Galatia). On the other hand the term may mean that he was Celtic, either Gaulish or Galatian. This usage of "Galata" for a Celt may be expected in Hydatius, who had travelled to the East as a child, for it was a Greek norm.
Ajax was sent by Theodoric II
, king of the Visigoths at Toulouse
, to convert the Suevi to Arianism. The barbarian Arians showed a markedly greater missionary fervour than the Catholics in the fifth century. Theodoric's action may have been a result of the reopening of Suevo-Gothic diplomacy under the Suevic king Remismund
, who married a Gothic princess and became a "son in arms" of Theodoric. He may have been sent at Remismund's request.
According to Hydatius, Ajax was "the enemy of the Catholic faith and of the Divine Trinity" (hostis catholicae fidei et divinae trinitatis), a statement which later Isidore of Seville
interpreted to mean that the Suevi were Catholics when Ajax converted them to heresy. Hydatius also calls Ajax effectus apostata, meaning an apostate from Catholicism. Ajax was also a senior Arrianus inter Suevos, which may refer either to a bishop or a priest, or may not. It may mean either "senior Arian" or "Arian senior", and may refer to a layman or a member of the Gothic sacerdotal college; in Catholic usage it could mean presbyter
.
Ajax's missionary venture was largely successful, especially amongst the nobility. He may well not have been the only Arian missionary sent to Galicia by the Visigoths; though he seems to have organised an influential church there.
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
missionary to the pagan
Germanic paganism
Germanic paganism refers to the theology and religious practices of the Germanic peoples of north-western Europe from the Iron Age until their Christianization during the Medieval period...
Suevi of Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
who converted them to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in 464 or 466.
Due in part to his unusual Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
ic name his origins have been debated. The contemporary chronicler Hydatius
Hydatius
Hydatius or Idacius , bishop of Aquae Flaviae in the Roman province of Gallaecia was the author of a chronicle of his own times that provides us with our best evidence for the history of the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century.-Life:Hydatius was born around the year 400 in the...
, the Catholic bishop of Aquae Flaviae
Aquae Flaviae
Aquæ Flaviæ is the ancient Roman name for the current city of Chaves, Portugal.-Pre-roman ocupation:The city was a center of pre-roman occupation, being the main town of the Turodi people.-Roman domain:...
, refers to him as Aiax natione Galata. "Galata" may refer to either a Galician, Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, or Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
n. It is doubtful that he was the first, since Hydatius would have called him Gallaeci. It is sometimes assumed that "Galata" is a way to refer to a Greek from the East (i.e. Galatia). On the other hand the term may mean that he was Celtic, either Gaulish or Galatian. This usage of "Galata" for a Celt may be expected in Hydatius, who had travelled to the East as a child, for it was a Greek norm.
Ajax was sent by Theodoric II
Theodoric II
Theodoric II was King of Visigoths from 453 to 466.Theoderic II, son of Theodoric I, obtained the throne by killing his elder brother Thorismund...
, king of the Visigoths at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, to convert the Suevi to Arianism. The barbarian Arians showed a markedly greater missionary fervour than the Catholics in the fifth century. Theodoric's action may have been a result of the reopening of Suevo-Gothic diplomacy under the Suevic king Remismund
Remismund
Remismund was the Suevic King of Galicia from c. 464 until his death.According to Isidore of Seville, Remismund was a son of Maldras. Remismund's early career was spent as an ambassador between Galicia and Gaul, which trip he made several times...
, who married a Gothic princess and became a "son in arms" of Theodoric. He may have been sent at Remismund's request.
According to Hydatius, Ajax was "the enemy of the Catholic faith and of the Divine Trinity" (hostis catholicae fidei et divinae trinitatis), a statement which later Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
interpreted to mean that the Suevi were Catholics when Ajax converted them to heresy. Hydatius also calls Ajax effectus apostata, meaning an apostate from Catholicism. Ajax was also a senior Arrianus inter Suevos, which may refer either to a bishop or a priest, or may not. It may mean either "senior Arian" or "Arian senior", and may refer to a layman or a member of the Gothic sacerdotal college; in Catholic usage it could mean presbyter
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
.
Ajax's missionary venture was largely successful, especially amongst the nobility. He may well not have been the only Arian missionary sent to Galicia by the Visigoths; though he seems to have organised an influential church there.
External links
- HydatiusHydatiusHydatius or Idacius , bishop of Aquae Flaviae in the Roman province of Gallaecia was the author of a chronicle of his own times that provides us with our best evidence for the history of the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century.-Life:Hydatius was born around the year 400 in the...
. Hydatii Episcopi Chronicon.