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Illustrated World History Europe |
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 The Lombards Master Italy From a painting by L. Piogliaghi, Italy. Who were the Lombards? They had come from Scandinavia to Pannonia (Hungary) while they were still fierce pagans practicing vendetta. By 500 AD they became Arianized. Their first important king was Alboin. He allied with the Avars, and Asia tribe, and followed the path of the Huns when he crushed the Germanic tribe of the Gepidae. Alboin made the Gepids king's daughter drink out of the skull of her father after which she arranged to have Alboin killed. She fled to Ravenna. By 568 the Lombards moved into Italy. Their main kingdom, a mosaic of `duchies', was destroyed over 200 years later by Charlemagne, but not those in the south. The Lombards were the real founders of modern Italy. |
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Menu Forward Back |  A New Power in the World! Really? Is it New? Painted by Vassili Verestchagin, Russia. Pope Gregory I. (579-590) checks the burial of a covetous monk. Today's civilization rose slowly on the ruins of the old. The advance of the Lombards into southern Italy was checked by a new and strangely constituted power, described this way: "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. . . . Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; . . . And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. . . . Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. . . . And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Daniel 7:8-25. - The power of the Popes or bishops of Rome was indeed a new order of things. They were in the process of replacing secular royal power with a mix of half or less converted religious power. Under a cloak of faith they desired more attainment of temporal powers than they desired to proclaim the gospel. The immediate social issues outweighed the spiritual needs, not understanding that true Christian living is the only real means for an orderly society. Already the apostles had encountered those in the church who professed godliness while they were secretly cherishing iniquity. Ananias and Sapphira acted the part of deceivers, pretending to make an entire sacrifice for God, when they were covetously withholding a portion for themselves. The Spirit of truth revealed to the apostles the real character of these pretenders, and the judgments of God rid the church of this foul blot upon its purity. This signal evidence of the discerning Spirit of Christ in the church was a terror to hypocrites and evildoers. They could not long remain in connection with those who were, in habit and disposition, constant representatives of Christ; and as trials and persecution came upon His followers, those only who were willing to forsake all for the truth's sake desired to become His disciples. Thus, as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure. But as it ceased, converts were added who were less sincere and devoted, and the way was open for Satan to obtain a foothold. Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, "the mystery of iniquity" carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into what some today call the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and the Catholic version of Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. |
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 The Coming of the Franks From a painting by M. Wiegand, Germany. The Franks were German tribes from the Rhineland, who migrated into France after the destruction of the Roman Empire to seize Gaul. At first they plundered Gaul at the end of the 4th century and weakend the owners of the land. |
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Menu Forward Back |  Clovis Punishes Painted by Vassili Verestchagin, Russia. |
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 Founding the French Kingdom Painted by Alexander Zick. According to historians, Clovis was the founder of France. The image shows his unbiblical baptism by sprinkling, instead of submersion. |
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Menu Forward Back |  Charlemagne seated on his throne In a 10th century manuscript drawing, Karl sits as monarch of the empire. 
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 Karl (Charlemagne) crowned by Leo X. in 800 AD in Rome. Charlemagne ruled between 768 - 814, from 800 on up as Emperor. |
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Menu Forward Back |  How Catholicism Came to France When the Merovinger Clovis (Chlodwig) (481-511, a period covered by 5 popes) rule had been firmly established over all the Franks (at first only Belgien, northern France), he began to extend it over other nations. He moved his headquarters from Tournai (ca. 3.4 e & 50.7 n) to Soissons (ca. 3.2 e & 49.4 n). In pursuit of his ambition he courted a Catholic Christian bride, the Princess Clothilde, of that Burgundian nation (eastern France/ western Switzerland) which had fought against Attila. Clotilde's father had been slain and his throne seized by a relative, so that by marrying Clovis he would have some claim to the Burgundian crown. She was also a very beautiful young woman. So Clovis sent his most trusted councilor, the Roman, Aurelian, to see Clothilde in secret and judge of both her charms and her desire for revenge on her father's destroyer. - The Burgundians were Catholics, so Aurelian came to Clothilde as a Catholic pilgrim seeking shelter. She bathed his weary feet, and as she did so he made himself known by dropping into the basin the royal ring of Clovis. Clothilde wrung from her relatives a hesitating consent that she should wed the Frankish king; then she fairly fled from Burgundy to him, burning the villages behind her as she passed, as a savage (sinful) way of letting the Burgundians know her mind toward them. Clovis fought Burgundy as her champion, and made it a province of his growing empire. - On that wild ride through the flames, Clothilde had among her train, her "Christian", by name only, priests. Such behavior has always led people of other persuasions to frown upon Christianity and insult the name of Jesus Christ. Thus it was through her sins that an abominable form of unconverted Christianity was brought to France. |
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Menu Forward Back |  Clovis Defeats the Goths in Gaul . The Goths left Italy and came to Gaul. |
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Crawl out of this tomb
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