Christianity among the Germanic peoples in the territories of the Roman Empire

Abstract

This paper examines what has come to be called Gothic Arianism among the Germanic peoples of late antiquity and its ultimate failure. Goths were to be found among many different Christian groups besides the Arian. The role of Ulfilas, not as a missionary but as a bishop among the Goths is evaluated. The Arian identity of Gothic people under Gothic rule and the relationship between Catholic and Arians in Gothic and Vandal lands is also investigated. The baptism of the Frankish king, Clovis, and its significant role in the slow conversion to Christianity of the Merovingian Franks and the question of whether Burgundians and Lombards were Arians or pagans converted to Catholicism is also examined.