DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0069
ESTABLISHMENT OF BARBARIC RULE.
53
exarch was threatened. The Bishop of Rome protested
against the edict; it abolished an old time-honoured
custom. The ground was laid for the schism, which
did not fail ere long to sunder the Greek from the
Roman Church. The latter above all perceived the
policy of maintaining a spirit of unity amongst its mem-
bers, and of the unchangeable nature of its dogma and
rites. The Church, “ founded by St. Peter, was to rule
through the successors of Peter to the end of time.”
No discussions were ever to be admitted of its creed, save
by its own members. This faith gave strength to their
policy; and that policy organised the mediaeval creed of
Western Europe.
A change was then on the verge of taking place which
finally effected the separation of Italy from the Eastern
Empire. When Luitprandt, King of the Longobards,
heard of the rebellion of the people of Ravenna, and of
their resistance to the edict of the Emperor, he eagerly
grasped at so favourable an opportunity for the gratifica-
tion of personal ambition.
He suddenly appeared at the gates of the city with a
powerful force. The exarch behaved with fidelity and
courage; but finding himself unable to cope with the
superior forces of Luitprandt, he retired privately from
the city, and the latter was taken by storm, and sacked
by the Longobards of all the treasures accumulated by
Western emperors, Gothic kings, and Greek exarchs.
Luitprandt aspired to the subjection of Italy. But the
alarm had been taken by the Roman bishops, and the
power of the Longobards was checked by that of the
Franks, at the interposition of Rome.
The Bishops of Rome were elected by popular suffrage,
and owed their influence as much to their personal virtues
and capacity, as to their sacred office. Many of the early
bishops were men of great eminence. St. Gregory (who
died in the year 604) had negotiated on equal terms with
princes in matters of state; and his successors divided
their time between the offices of religion and the cares
of State. The object of their policy was to assert their
53
exarch was threatened. The Bishop of Rome protested
against the edict; it abolished an old time-honoured
custom. The ground was laid for the schism, which
did not fail ere long to sunder the Greek from the
Roman Church. The latter above all perceived the
policy of maintaining a spirit of unity amongst its mem-
bers, and of the unchangeable nature of its dogma and
rites. The Church, “ founded by St. Peter, was to rule
through the successors of Peter to the end of time.”
No discussions were ever to be admitted of its creed, save
by its own members. This faith gave strength to their
policy; and that policy organised the mediaeval creed of
Western Europe.
A change was then on the verge of taking place which
finally effected the separation of Italy from the Eastern
Empire. When Luitprandt, King of the Longobards,
heard of the rebellion of the people of Ravenna, and of
their resistance to the edict of the Emperor, he eagerly
grasped at so favourable an opportunity for the gratifica-
tion of personal ambition.
He suddenly appeared at the gates of the city with a
powerful force. The exarch behaved with fidelity and
courage; but finding himself unable to cope with the
superior forces of Luitprandt, he retired privately from
the city, and the latter was taken by storm, and sacked
by the Longobards of all the treasures accumulated by
Western emperors, Gothic kings, and Greek exarchs.
Luitprandt aspired to the subjection of Italy. But the
alarm had been taken by the Roman bishops, and the
power of the Longobards was checked by that of the
Franks, at the interposition of Rome.
The Bishops of Rome were elected by popular suffrage,
and owed their influence as much to their personal virtues
and capacity, as to their sacred office. Many of the early
bishops were men of great eminence. St. Gregory (who
died in the year 604) had negotiated on equal terms with
princes in matters of state; and his successors divided
their time between the offices of religion and the cares
of State. The object of their policy was to assert their