Flavius Paulus
Encyclopedia
Paul was a Hispano
-Roman
duke
of Wamba, king of the Visigoth
s in Hispania
(the Iberian Peninsula
, modern Spain and Portugal).
In 672
, when sent to crush the rebellion of Hilderic of Nîmes
and the Jews in Septimania
and Catalonia
, he converted to Judaism
and proclaimed himself king in Narbonne
as Flavius Paulus.
Some weeks after ascending the throne in 672 Wamba had to face a revolt from Hilderic
, governor of Nîmes
, who had himself aspired to the kingship. Hilderic was supported by Gunhild
, Bishop of Maguelonne, and a large body of Jews eager to rise up against their persecution. So Wamba sent Flavius Paulus to put down the hostilities. But upon his arrival at Narbonne
, Flavius Paulus became a rebel himself, inducing his officers to renounce their loyalty to Wamba. Soon his army elected him king and he was joined by Hilderic and his followers.
Flavius Paulus then sent emissaries to the Basques
, inciting them to rebellion as well, which forced Wamba to personally lead an army into the western Pyrenees
and reduce the Basques to submission.
A few weeks into his rebellion Flavius Paulus was crowned by his supporters using a golden crown given by the late King Reccared
to the church of Girona
. With this, the Visigothic cities in Gaul
and a large part of northeastern Hispania came over to Paulus' side. The rebellion thus became wide ranging, with nobles opposed to Wamba organizing large units that fought the royal armies in the field. Meanwhile, Paulus converted to Judaism
and Jewish revolutionary groups assassinated nobles loyal to the king.
In response, Wamba marched into the Narbonensis and Tarraconensis regions, the center of the revolt, and in a few days turned most of the cities back to his side.
In 673, as part of his efforts against the rebellion, Wamba laid siege to and took Castellum Cauclibéri, a strategic Catalan
port located where the Pyrenees
reach the Mediterranean (today called Collioure
, in the southernmost corner of France). Following this, and a signal naval victory on the coast, the rebellion was isolated from its external supporters amongst Jewish commercial interests and Islamic piratical groups.
When Wamba moved on Narbonne, Paulus placed a general, Wittimer, over that city and retired himself to Nîmes
. But Wamba's forces quickly subdued Narbonne and then, after some difficulty, secured the surrender of Nîmes on September 3, 673. This included the surrender of Paulus and the other rebel leaders who, three days later, were brought to trial and, for their crimes, scalped
and imprisoned for life.
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
-Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Wamba, king of the Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
s in Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
(the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, modern Spain and Portugal).
In 672
672
Year 672 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 672 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Wamba succeeds Reccaswinth as king of the...
, when sent to crush the rebellion of Hilderic of Nîmes
Hilderic of Nîmes
Hilderic or Hilderuc was count of Nîmes during the reigns of Recceswinth and Wamba. Immediately upon the latter's accession in 672, Hilderic rebelled. Many oppressed Jews joined this rebellion. When Wamba sent the Duke Paul to end the hostilities, the latter became a rebel himself in Septimania...
and the Jews in Septimania
Septimania
Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462, when Septimania was ceded to their king, Theodoric II. Under the Visigoths it was known as simply Gallia or Narbonensis. It corresponded roughly with the modern...
and Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, he converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and proclaimed himself king in Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
as Flavius Paulus.
Some weeks after ascending the throne in 672 Wamba had to face a revolt from Hilderic
Hilderic of Nîmes
Hilderic or Hilderuc was count of Nîmes during the reigns of Recceswinth and Wamba. Immediately upon the latter's accession in 672, Hilderic rebelled. Many oppressed Jews joined this rebellion. When Wamba sent the Duke Paul to end the hostilities, the latter became a rebel himself in Septimania...
, governor of Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, who had himself aspired to the kingship. Hilderic was supported by Gunhild
Gunhild
Gunhild, Gunnhild, Gunnhildr, Gundhild, Gunhilde or Gunhilda is a Germanic feminine given name composed of two words meaning "war"...
, Bishop of Maguelonne, and a large body of Jews eager to rise up against their persecution. So Wamba sent Flavius Paulus to put down the hostilities. But upon his arrival at Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Flavius Paulus became a rebel himself, inducing his officers to renounce their loyalty to Wamba. Soon his army elected him king and he was joined by Hilderic and his followers.
Flavius Paulus then sent emissaries to the Basques
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
, inciting them to rebellion as well, which forced Wamba to personally lead an army into the western Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
and reduce the Basques to submission.
A few weeks into his rebellion Flavius Paulus was crowned by his supporters using a golden crown given by the late King Reccared
Reccared
Reccared I was Visigothic King of Hispania, Septimania and Galicia. His reign marked a climactic shift in history, with the king's renunciation of traditional Arianism in favour of Catholic Christianity in 587.Reccared was the younger son of King Liuvigild by his first wife Theodosia...
to the church of Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
. With this, the Visigothic cities in 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...
and a large part of northeastern Hispania came over to Paulus' side. The rebellion thus became wide ranging, with nobles opposed to Wamba organizing large units that fought the royal armies in the field. Meanwhile, Paulus converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and Jewish revolutionary groups assassinated nobles loyal to the king.
In response, Wamba marched into the Narbonensis and Tarraconensis regions, the center of the revolt, and in a few days turned most of the cities back to his side.
In 673, as part of his efforts against the rebellion, Wamba laid siege to and took Castellum Cauclibéri, a strategic Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
port located where the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
reach the Mediterranean (today called Collioure
Collioure
Collioure is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies on the Mediterranean and was a part of the ancient Roussillon province....
, in the southernmost corner of France). Following this, and a signal naval victory on the coast, the rebellion was isolated from its external supporters amongst Jewish commercial interests and Islamic piratical groups.
When Wamba moved on Narbonne, Paulus placed a general, Wittimer, over that city and retired himself to Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
. But Wamba's forces quickly subdued Narbonne and then, after some difficulty, secured the surrender of Nîmes on September 3, 673. This included the surrender of Paulus and the other rebel leaders who, three days later, were brought to trial and, for their crimes, scalped
Scalping
Scalping is the act of removing another person's scalp or a portion of their scalp, either from a dead body or from a living person. The initial purpose of scalping was to provide a trophy of battle or portable proof of a combatant's prowess in war...
and imprisoned for life.