64:
113:
213:
authority, while it also regulated clerical and monastic life, concerning issues of property, crime, and relations with women. It covered some liturgical issues concerning mass, feasts, and fasting. Penitents and the laity were only briefly discussed. Canon 32 "expressly decreed the perpetuity of servitude among the descendants of slaves."
54:
church council. It was an important milestone in creating a unified Gallic Church under
Frankish rule, and accordingly the matters addressed at the council reflected the concerns of the Catholic episcopate in this new political context. The council established a Merovingian conciliar tradition, being
224:
The opening canons cover matters of sanctuary in church. The canons cover a range of scenarios, namely concerning criminals (c.1), abductors (c.2), and slaves (c.3). In the case of ‘murderers, adulterers, and thieves’ seeking sanctuary in the church, the bishops ruled that the ecclesiastical canons
103:
Halfond further argues that Clovis purposely elected to represent cities recently integrated into his kingdom, including newly appointed northern bishops and the
Aquitanian bishops previously under Visigothic rule. Halfond refers to the council’s episcopal subscriptions to support this. The bishops
242:
Canon ten addresses ‘heretical clerics’, specifically dealing with Arian clerics following the
Frankish gain of Visigothic territory. It is decreed that if these clerics ‘entirely accept’ Catholicism, they are permitted to join the ranks of the Catholic clergy in whatever role their bishop decides
212:
The thirty-one decrees of the First
Council of Orléans addressed ecclesiastical and royal concerns, although their respective concerns often intersected. The first ten canons, but specifically 4-7, are likely an answer to the royal questionnaire. The council was particularly focused upon episcopal
182:
Christian, was aware of this and thus the need to call a
Frankish synod. Agde and Orléans shared both attendees and legislative concerns. Halfond has argued that issues from Agde were raised at Orléans with the specific aim of addressing concerns of the Aquitanian bishops who were new to Frankish
268:
The First
Council of Orléans established a precedent for Frankish kings’ involvement in ecclesiastical councils. Clovis established a standard for ‘associating royal power with the enforcement of conciliar decisions’. From Orléans, a tradition of ‘mutual recognition’ developed between crown and
233:
Canon five addresses ‘offerings or lands’ which the King has gifted to the Church. Historians have argued this could reflect the context of distributing
Visigothic land and property. It is decreed that royal gifts were to be immune from taxation, but were to be directed into church maintenance,
100:. However, it was Cyprian of Bordeaux, a southern bishop, who presided over the council. Halfond proposes that Clovis chose Cyprian as president in acknowledgement of the ‘long-established spiritual and pastoral authority’ of the southern bishops, and their association with conciliar tradition.
251:
A number of the canons are constructed to determine the boundaries of a bishop’s authority. Notably, the authority of a bishop over their clergy is asserted (c.7, c.28). The canons also address episcopal control over church offerings and the bishop’s duty to distribute among the ‘poor or sick’
203:
questions the importance of Vouillé, considering that the council did not occur until four years after the
Visigothic defeat. However, he contends that the primary purpose of the council was to deal with property of the Aquitanian churches following the Frankish conquest. Historical consensus
145:
Clovis was not present at the council, but the attending bishops wrote a letter to him following the council to inform him of the proceedings and seek his approval. The letter references ‘all the bishops’ that Clovis ordered to be present, indicating that Clovis controlled attendance.
71:
Although Clovis convoked the council, he was not present in Orléans when the bishops met. Of the thirty-three attending bishops, approximately two-thirds were from northern Gaul and the remaining third from the south. The provinces represented at Orléans were
264:
As the First
Council of Orléans was the first national Merovingian church council, it acted as a model for future Frankish councils. Its canons had longevity, as nearly all of them were preserved in Merovingian and Carolingian canonical compilations.
198:
There has been historiographical debate over the impact the
Visigothic defeat had on Clovis’ convocation of the council. Daly has argued against the importance of the Visigothic wars, arguing that the council did not have an ‘Aquitanian focus’.
131:
In 511 Orléans had no import in Gallic conciliar affairs, but over the Merovingian period was to become a prominent meeting place for national church councils. Four further councils took place in Orléans in the sixth century.
255:
Within this, the boundaries of secular and episcopal authority are discussed, as per Clovis’ agenda. It is decreed that laymen are not to be ordained, unless commanded so by the king or with the consent of the judge (c.4).
149:
Further, the letter references ‘headings’ that Clovis gave the bishops to discuss, indicating that Clovis had some influence on the proceedings of the council. Clovis’ convocation of the council was partially an act of
204:
attributes some degree of significance to the Visigothic context, Halfond and James both proposing that the council was focused on the regulation of episcopal affairs in light of the expanded Frankish territory.
191:
Clovis convened the First Council of Orléans shortly before his death in 511, in the context of his recent defeat of the Visigoths in 507 at the Battle of Vouillé. Alaric II’s territory in
128:. Its central location allowed for accessibility, and its status as a frontier city between Clovis’ kingdom and the newly conquered Visigothic territory gave the location significance.
47:
to reform the church and construct a strong relationship between the crown and the Catholic episcopate, the majority of the canons reflecting compromise between these two institutions.
225:
and Roman law should be followed, meaning ‘it should not be permitted’ to remove them from the church, nor hand them over unless an oath is sworn promising no harm.
800:
252:(c.14-16). It is decreed that abbots are to be ‘under the control of bishops’ and are to be punished by the bishops if they oppose their Rule (c.19).
844:
474:
Gregory Halfond, ‘Vouillé, Orléans (511), and the Origins of the Frankish Conciliar Tradition’, in R. W. Mathisen and D. Shanzer (eds),
322:
Halfond, G., ‘Vouillé, Orléans (511), and the Origins of the Frankish Conciliar Tradition’, in R. W. Mathisen and D. Shanzer (eds),
104:
are listed in order of seniority, so the subscriptions shows that many of the northern bishops were the most recently appointed.
839:
864:
693:
859:
849:
195:
was thus taken over by Clovis. This created the practical issue of integrating the Visigothic episcopate.
55:
the first of ‘no less than forty-five provincial and national Church councils’ in the sixth century.
522:
Halfond, ‘Vouillé, Orléans (511), and the Origins of the Frankish Conciliar Tradition’, pp. 157-8.
39:
in 507. The council was attended by thirty-two bishops, including four metropolitans, from across
159:
27:, King of the Franks, in 511. Clovis called for this synod four years after his victory over the
269:
church, wherein both recognised the importance of the other in managing ecclesiastical affairs.
675:
Halfond, ‘Vouillé, Orléans (511), and the Origins of the Frankish Conciliar Tradition’, p. 153.
513:
Halfond, ‘Vouillé, Orléans (511), and the Origins of the Frankish Conciliar Tradition’, p. 158.
200:
155:
36:
8:
179:
51:
63:
171:
833:
815:
802:
854:
112:
448:
Yitzhak Hen, ‘The Church in Sixth-Century Gaul’, in A. C. Murray (ed.),
234:
supporting the bishops, and aiding the poor and prisoners through alms.
44:
192:
32:
28:
372:
Christianity and Paganism, 350-750: The Conversion of Western Europe
329:
Hen, Y., ‘The Church in Sixth-Century Gaul’, in A. C. Murray (ed.),
296:
Christianity and Paganism, 350-750: The Conversion of Western Europe
175:
73:
24:
43:, and together they passed thirty-one decrees. The bishops met at
77:
186:
577:
The Origins of France: From Clovis to the Capetians, 500-1000
338:
The Origins of France: From Clovis to the Capetians, 500-1000
125:
116:
Map of Frankish Gaul in 511, showing the location of Orléans.
97:
89:
85:
81:
170:
However, there was also the more immediate precedent of the
93:
40:
178:, he had assembled Roman bishops together. Clovis, as a
385:
The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils, AD 511-768
317:
The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils, AD 511-768
623:
William M. Daly, ‘Clovis: How Barbaric, How Pagan?’,
140:
174:, convoked by Alaric in 506. Although Alaric was an
135:
216:Some of the most pertinent issues that arose were:
124:of Orléans, located in north-central Gaul, on the
50:The 511 Council of Orléans was the first national
476:The Battle of Vouillé, 507 CE: Where France Began
324:The Battle of Vouillé, 507 CE: Where France Began
308:Daly, W. M., ‘Clovis: How Barbaric, How Pagan?’,
831:
588:Hen, ‘The Church in Sixth-Century Gaul’, p. 243.
120:For the location of his synod, Clovis chose the
696:The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas
790:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
777:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
728:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
599:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
546:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
533:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
502:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
489:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
463:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
437:The Archaeology of Frankish Church Councils,
187:Context of Vouillé and the Visigothic defeat
687:
402:Gregory of Tours: The History of the Franks
289:Gregory of Tours: The History of the Franks
370:‘Orléans, 511’, in J. N. Hillgarth (ed.),
294:‘Orléans, 511’, in J. N. Hillgarth (ed.),
154:following in the Constantinian tradition,
111:
62:
845:Catholic Church councils held in France
832:
246:
298:(Philadelphia, 1986), pp. 98–103
757:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 7, 14-16, 19, 28.
302:
237:
228:
165:
13:
277:
141:Clovis' involvement in the council
14:
876:
136:Clovis and the context of Vouillé
333:(Leiden, 2016), pp. 232–255
326:(Berlin, 2012), pp. 151–165
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450:A Companion to Gregory of Tours
331:A Companion to Gregory of Tours
259:
636:John Michael Wallace-Hadrill,
468:
455:
442:
429:
420:
413:John Michael Wallace-Hadrill,
407:
390:
377:
364:
1:
404:(Harmondsworth, 1974), II.37.
272:
374:(Philadelphia, 1986), p. 99.
219:
58:
7:
840:6th-century church councils
426:‘Orléans, 511’, pp. 99-103.
312:69 (1994), pp. 619–664
107:
10:
881:
579:(London, 1982), pp. 29-30.
640:(Toronto, 1982), p. 177.
358:
350:Wallace-Hadrill, J. M.,
343:Wallace-Hadrill, J. M.,
207:
21:First Council of Orléans
865:Christianity in Francia
708:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 1-3.
698:, Vol. 1, p.695 (1924).
478:(Berlin, 2012), p. 158.
452:(Leiden, 2016), p. 243.
160:First Council of Nicaea
860:6th century in Francia
748:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 10.
684:‘Orléans, 511’, p. 98.
664:The Origins of France,
653:(Oxford, 1983), p. 96.
566:‘Orléans, 511’, p. 99.
557:‘Orléans, 511’, p. 99.
417:(Oxford, 1983), p. 95.
117:
68:
766:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 4.
739:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 5.
717:‘Orléans, 511’, c. 5.
694:Westermarck, Edward,
638:The Long-Haired Kings
387:(Leiden, 2010), p. 7.
345:The Long-Haired Kings
291:(Harmondsworth, 1974)
115:
66:
816:47.90306°N 1.91056°E
812: /
651:The Frankish Church
415:The Frankish Church
352:The Frankish Church
247:Episcopal authority
850:History of Orléans
627:69 (1994), p. 658.
610:Gregory of Tours,
400:trans. L. Thorpe,
396:Gregory of Tours,
287:trans. L. Thorpe,
283:Gregory of Tours,
158:having called the
118:
69:
821:47.90306; 1.91056
649:Wallace-Hadrill,
383:Gregory Halfond,
303:Secondary Sources
238:Converted clerics
229:Clerical immunity
166:Precedent of Agde
67:Attending Bishops
37:Battle of Vouillé
872:
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779:pp. 168-70, 190.
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23:was convoked by
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347:(Toronto, 1982)
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278:Primary Sources
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201:Wallace-Hadrill
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172:Council of Agde
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575:Edward James,
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354:(Oxford, 1983)
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340:(London, 1982)
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319:(Leiden, 2010)
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315:Halfond, G.,
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243:appropriate.
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260:Significance
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169:
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144:
130:
121:
119:
102:
70:
49:
20:
18:
819: /
730:pp. 110-11.
336:James, E.,
156:Constantine
126:Loire River
52:Merovingian
834:Categories
804:47°54′11″N
666:pp. 29-30.
612:Histories,
601:pp. 187-8.
398:Histories,
285:Histories,
273:References
807:1°54′38″E
788:Halfond,
775:Halfond,
726:Halfond,
597:Halfond,
544:Halfond,
531:Halfond,
500:Halfond,
487:Halfond,
461:Halfond,
435:Halfond,
220:Sanctuary
193:Aquitaine
59:Attendees
33:Alaric II
29:Visigoths
625:Speculum
310:Speculum
162:in 325.
108:Location
74:Bordeaux
25:Clovis I
792:p. 146.
662:James,
491:p. 223.
122:civitas
78:Bourges
45:Orléans
35:at the
614:II.37.
183:rule.
180:Nicene
98:Rheims
96:, and
31:under
548:p. 7.
535:p. 7.
504:p. 7.
465:p. 7.
439:p. 7.
359:Notes
208:Creed
176:Arian
90:Rouen
86:Tours
82:Éauze
16:Synod
94:Sens
41:Gaul
19:The
855:511
836::
92:,
88:,
84:,
80:,
76:,
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