Facts of Faith

The Ostrogoths

Theodoric, king of the Ostrogothic nation of Italy, maintained complete religious liberty for all classes and creeds. He wrote to Justin, Emperor of the East, who was persecuting the Arians: FAFA 44.4

” ‘To pretend to a domination over the conscience, is to usurp the prerogative of God; by the nature of things the power of sovereigns is confined to political government; they have no right of punishment but over those who disturb the public peace; the most dangerous heresy is that of a sovereign who separates himself from part of his subjects, because they believe not according to his belief.’” - FAFA 44.5

“History of Latin Christianity,” H. H. Milman, Vol. I, Book III, chap. 3, P. 439. New York: 1860. FAFA 44.6

The wars of the migrating barbarians on the one side, and the persecutions of heathen, Jews, and Arians by the Catholic Church on the other, had kept Italy in constant turmoil. Agricultural pursuits were neglected, people crowded into the cities, and want and starvation faced the population. But Theodoric’s wise and firm rule, and the strict religious liberty he established in Italy, brought peace, prosperity, and happiness to all classes. J. G. Sheppard, D. D., says: FAFA 44.7

” ‘Theodoric deserves the highest praise; for, during the thirty-eight years he reigned in Italy, he brought the country to such a state of greatness, that her previous sufferings were no longer recognizable.’... What then prevented this man, with so great a genius for government, and so splendid an opportunity for its exercise, from organizing a Germanic empire, equal in extent and power to that which obeyed the sceptre of the old Roman Caesars? Or why did he fail, when Charlemagne, with a greater complication of interests to deal with, for a time at least, succeeded? FAFA 45.1

“The causes were mainly these; causes ... very similar, at all times, in their operation. In the first place, Theodoric was an Arian, and there was a power antagonistic to Arianism growing up already on the banks of the Tiber, stronger than the statesmen’s policy or the soldier’s sword - the spiritual power of the church of Rome.... Such a power was necessarily altogether incompatible with the existence of an Arian empire. And it proved mightier than its rival. “Fall of Rome,” John G. Sheppard, D. D., pp. 301, 802. London: 1861. FAFA 45.2

In order to give the reader a better understanding of the means used by the Papacy to destroy these Arian kingdoms, we shall quote from Thomas Hodgkin a few brief statements. He states that Theodoric, the Ostrogothic king, endeavored to have it a close league for mutual defence formed between the four great Arian and Teutonic monarchies, the Visigothic, the Burgundian, the Ostrogothic, and the Vandal.” But “diplomatists were wanting [who could act] as their skillful and eloquent representatives, travelling like Epiphanius from court to court, and bringing the barbarian sovereigns to understand each other, to sink their petty grievances, and to work together harmoniously for one common end. Precisely these men were the Catholic prelates of the Mediterranean lands to whom it was all-important that no such Arian league should be formed.... All over the Roman world there was a serried array of Catholic bishops and presbyters, taking their orders from a single centre, Rome, feeling the interest of each one to be the interests of all, in lively and constant intercourse with one another, quick to discover, quick to disclose the slightest weak place in the organization of the new heretical kingdoms. Of all this there was not the slightest trace on the other side. The Arian bishops ... stood apart from one another in stupid and ignorant isolation.” — “Italy and Her Invaders,” Thomas Hodgkin, (8-vol. ed.) Vol. III, Book 4, pp. 381-383. Oxford: 1899. FAFA 45.3

This same principle was clearly stated by the Catholic bishop Avitus, when the Arian king Gundobad appealed to him not to allow the Catholic king Clovis to overrun his country. Avitus answered: “If Gundobad would reconcile himself to the Church, the Church would guarantee his safety from the attacks of Clovis.” — Id., p. 384. FAFA 46.1

The religious liberty, with its attendant blessings to the country, which Theodoric had inaugurated, did not satisfy the Catholic bishops; for Rome does not want religious liberty for other churches, but sole domination for herself. FAFA 46.2

“The religious toleration which Theodoric had the glory of introducing into the Christian world, was painful and offensive to the orthodox zeal of the Italian” — “Decline and Fall,” Edward Gibbon, chap. 39, par. 17. FAFA 46.3

“Theodoric, ... being an Arian, could not long remain on harmonious terms with a Pope and [an] Emperor of the Orthodox creed, [who were] necessarily bound to combine against him sooner or later.” — “The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,” P. Villari, Vol. 1, p. 178. London: 1913; New York: Scribner, 1902. FAFA 46.4

This was only natural. The fundamental principles of the church of Rome are such that she can never concede to any other denomination the equal right to exist and to carry on its worship. Urged on by the pope and his bishops, Emperor Justin had enacted severe laws against Arians (524 A. D.), and Justinian began his reign in 527 by making laws still more severe. FAFA 46.5

“Theodoric, the King of Italy, at first maintained something of his usual calm moderation; he declined all retaliation, to which he had been incessantly urged, on the orthodox of the West.” — “Latin Christianity, ” H. H. Milman, D. D., Vol. I, Book III, chap. 3, p. 440. FAFA 46.6

But the concerted efforts of pope and emperor, by fire, sword, and exile, to exterminate ” Arianism ” at last “awakened the just resentment of Theodoric, who claimed for his distressed brethren of the East the same indulgence which he had so long granted to the Catholics of his dominions.... And a mandate was prepared in Italy, to prohibit, after a stated day, the exercise of the Catholic worship. By the bigotry of his subjects and enemies, the most tolerant of princes was driven to the brink of persecution.” — “Decline and Fall,” chap. 89, par. 17. FAFA 47.1

“In Italy, Theodoric’s prolonged toleration had reconciled no one to him, and his ultimate severity exasperated his Roman subjects. A dumb agitation held sway in the West, and the coming of the Emperor’s soldiers was eagerly awaited and desired.” — “Cambridge Medieval History,” Bury, Gwatkin, and Whitney, Vol. II, p. 10. Chicago: The Macmillan Company, 1913. FAFA 47.2

“And truly the chief men of Rome were suspected, at this very time, of carrying on a treasonable correspondence with the Court of Constantinople, and machinating the ruin of the Gothic empire in Italy” — “History of the Popes,” A. Bower, Vol. II, p. 421. Dublin: 1749. FAFA 47.3

In the summer of 535 Belisarius started with 7,500 men besides his own guards to conquer Italy and destroy the Arian heretics. This he could do only by the assistance of the Roman Catholics. FAFA 47.4

“But with great shrewdness he had quickly won their good will, by announcing that he came to deliver them from the barbarian yoke, and from the Arian persecution, and also for the purpose of restoring Rome to her ancient grandeur.” — “The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,” P. Villari, Vol. 1, p. 201. FAFA 47.5

Witigis [Vitiges] was now the king of the Ostrogoths, and Rome was continuing its usual policy. Professor J. B. Bury says: FAFA 47.6

“In the meantime Belisarius had left Naples and was marching northward. The Romans, warned by the experiences of Naples, and urged by the Pope, who had no scruples in breaking his oath with Witigis, sent a messenger inviting him to come. He ... entered Rome on December 9, A. D. 536.” — “History of the Later Roman Empire,” Vol. II, pp. 179, 180.

“Such, then, was the Pope Silverius ... who, having sworn a solemn oath of fealty to Witigis, now, near the end of 536, sent messengers to Belisarius to offer the peaceful surrender of the city of Rome.” — “Italy and Her Invaders,” T. Hodgkin (8-vol. ed.), Vol. IV, Book 5, p. 93. 1885. FAFA 48.1

“Rome betrayed. The Catholics, on the first approach of the emperor’s army, boldly raised the cry that the apostolic throne (!) should no longer be profaned by the triumph or toleration of Arianism, nor the tombs of the Caesars trampled by the savages of the North; and deputies of the pope and clergy, and of what is called the senate and people, waited upon the approaching army to whom they threw open the gates of the city; and the Catholics were rewarded for their treason by the apparent respect of Belisarius for the pope.” — “History of the Christian Church,” N. Summerbell, page 340, third edition. Cincinnati: 1873. FAFA 48.2

Witigis then besieged the city of Rome from March, 537, to March, 538, when he raised the siege, after losing the flower of his army, and retired to Ravenna, his capital. T. Hodgkin says: FAFA 48.3

“With heavy hearts the barbarians must have thought, as they turned them northwards, upon the many graves of gallant men which they were leaving on that fatal plain. Some of them must have suspected the melancholy truth that they had dug one grave, deeper and wider than all, the grave of the Gothic monarchy in Italy” — “Italy and Her Invaders,” (8-vol. ed.) Vol. IV, p. 285.

A deathblow was thus given to the Ostrogoths in 538 A. D., and their attempts to re-establish themselves after this were but the last flicker of a lamp being extinguished. Belisarius followed them this same year to their “last stronghold of power. Ravenna was soon entered by the troops of the empire, and with it fell the great kingdom of the Ostrogoths.” — “Fall of Rome” J. G. Sheppard, p. 306. London: 1892. FAFA 48.4

“Then occurred a singular phenomenon, - the annihilation and disappearance of a great and powerful people from the world’s history.” — Id., p. 307. FAFA 49.1

But let all remember, that “the success of Justinian’s invasion was due to the clergy in the ruin they brought upon their country, and the relentless tyranny they drew upon themselves, they had their reward.” — “History of the Intellectual Development of Europe,” J. W. Draper, M. D., LL. D., Vol. I, p. 355. New York: Harper Brothers., 1889. FAFA 49.2

The last of the three Arian “horns ” of Daniel 7:8 had passed away, and with it passed also the liberty of the common people. Dr. N. Summerbell truthfully says: FAFA 49.3

“The Dark Ages, introduced by the persecution of an enlightened Church in the sanguinary wars of Justinian to exalt the Catholics, continued up to the fourteenth century. It was a long, dark night, when ignorance, bigotry, and cruelty reigned, and truth, purity, and justice were crushed out.” — “History of the Christian Church,” p. 342.