Caesarius of Arles The Making of a Christian Community in Late Antique Gaul [Paperback]

A study of the Christianisation of southern France through the career and writings of Bishop Caesarius of Arles.This book studies the problem of Christianisation in southern France during the early sixth century AD, and of the transformation of the pagan Roman empire, from the perspective of the career and writings of Bishop Caesarius of Arles (470542).This book studies the problem of Christianisation in southern France during the early sixth century AD, and of the transformation of the pagan Roman empire, from the perspective of the career and writings of Bishop Caesarius of Arles (470542).This book studies the processes by which the pagan Roman Empire was transformed into the Christian Middle Ages. Drawing on the perspectives of social history, archaeology and anthropology, it focuses on the strategies of Bishop Caesarius of Arles (470SH542 AD) to promote Christian values, practices and beliefs among the pagans, Jews and Christians of southern France, and on the resistance provoked by his efforts among the population. This is the first book in English about Caesarius, and the only book to discuss southern Gaul during the sixth century.Introduction; 1. In search of the vita perfecta; 2. Late Roman Arles; 3. The making of a reformer; 4. Visigothic Arles and its bishop; 5. The Ostrogothic peace; 6. Christian rhetoric and ritual action; 7. Christianity as a community religion; 8. The limits of Christianisation; 9. The coming of the Franks; 10. The legacy of Caesarius. ...a thoughtful, well-written study....the first serious study on Cesarius of Arles. Journal of Church and State William Klingshirn's richly nuanced study of Caesarius's life. bridging as it does the still Roman world of Sidonius and the Merovingian world of Gregory, is an immensely valuable contribution to the growing body of recent scholarship on late-and sub-Roman Gaul. Speculum-A Journal of Medieval Studies A splendid book that rewards the reader with plentiful insights not only into the lifelóZ