RELIGION IN CRUSADER KINGS II: THE ARIANS

-



RELIGION IN CRUSADER KINGS II

 

One of the most intriguing aspects of Crusader Kings II is surely the incorporation of real religious traditions in the simulation; alternatively, one can opt for new ones or reform the pagan religions and make a new one. This can prove controversial, since religion is a very sensitive topic; for this reason, it should be clear that religion is no matter to play with. It makes sense to include it in the simulation, though, as it get more realistic and enjoyable; on this matter, the same general considerations of this projects can be applied. In particular, we should remember that we are here to play a game and make historical hypothesis, and this does not mean in any way to disrespect any religion or culture.

Looking at the picture above, we see that the Arian religion is widespread in Italy in 756 CE, in our scenario; but, who was Arius and who were the Arians? That’s what we’re gonna try to find out in this post.

 

ARIUS AND COSTANTINE: UNITY AND DIVISION

 

Arius was as influential priest whose preaching created a major division in the Eastern Roman Empire; he was born in Lybia around the year 250 CE and died in Costantinople in about 336 CE. Differently from the Christian orthodox doctrine, he affirmed that the Christ had only a human nature and not a divine one; for this reason, he sparked a fierce theological debate and created a major rift in the Empire. The Emperor Costantine, evidently, did not like the situation and faced him and his followers; as it is very well Known, his aim was to bring unity, both in the Church and in the Empire. For this reason, the community of Arians in Alexandria was deemed a major threat to the Empire and the Church as well; the history tells us that Arius was declared heretic by the first Council of the Christian Church in Nicea. By this very act, the Emperor was trying to rally the Christians around the double banner of the Empire and the Church. Curiously, it was Constantine to summon the Council in Nicea and not the Pope; for this reason, it is not surprising that many authors considered the fight with Arius as eminently political and not religious.

 

ARIANS IN ITALY?

 

In our simulation, as one can see in the picture above, Arians are spread in Italy towards the mid of VII Century CE. But is it historically accurate? To answer this question, we have to consider what happened to the followers of Arius after its death. History tells us that he had a very powerful patron in the sister of the Emperor, who could rescue him from the exile. What happened after his death, though?

The Western Empire there was an Emperor, Constans, who favoured non Arians but in the East, Constantius II promoted their ideas. In 350, the champion of Arians became the only Emperor and their protégés consolidated their power base. In 381, however, a new Council was called in Constantinople, and Arians were definitely condemned. They maintained some leverage among some tribes, like the Germanic ones, at the end of VII Century. 


And in Italy? Well, in the Italian Peninsula,  we know that Theodoric, in the V century CE was Arian. Later, the monarchs in VI and VII century CE were Arians as well, but in the VIII century CE they converted to Catholicism. So, in this time, namely 750-760 CE the Longobard Kingdom was no longer Arian, although there still could be Arian Christians. In fact, we have to remember that the conversion of a King or an Emperor did not mean a uniform situation, but only the official religion adopted.



 In our simulation, Arians are present in other parts of the map, as in the Germanic area, consistently with historical information, as you can see from the map below.



In the next posts we will cover the figure of Costantine and Justinian, who shaped the religious and political landscape of their era and of our as well.


Stay tuned and don't miss the new contents!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Commenti e suggerimenti sono ben accetti, ma nel limite dell'educazione e del buon gusto, nonché delle leggi vigenti.
Dite la vostra!

Popular posts from this blog

THE ARABIC PENINSULA BEFORE THE ADVENT OF ISLAM

-
Image
ARABIA BEFORE ISLAM   When we think at the Arabian peninsula, we immediately associate it with Islam; Arabia is the cradle of Islam, and this is not only a Religion but a culture as well. Arabic culture and Islam are strictly associated, and it’s difficult to think at one without the other. Nonetheless, there was an Arabia before the advent of Islam, very different from what we know nowadays; it is so far in time that it is practically lost. However, historians can help us to rebuild that world, and, as a matter of fact, there were many religious traditions; among them, one can mention, above all, Christianity and Paganism. Judaism, Zoroastrism, and Manicheism were there as well, but played a secondary role; thus, while we acknowledge their existence, from an historic point of view, we have to focus on the two main groups that played a major role.   Christianity   The importance of Christianity, as a social and religious phenomenon, mainly relies upon its relevance in shaping the late
Read more

THE ARAB ENCOUNTER OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE LATE ANTIQUITY

-
Image
  'MEETING' (Copyright 2020 Salvatore Puleio) ARABS AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE LATE ANTIQUITY   During the IV and V centuries of the Vulgar Era, the Arabs came to a close contact with the Empire of the Romans; this way, the immense territory of Syria and Mesopotamia met a religious tradition which was strictly linked to the political issues of power and control. In fact, the ‘throne and the altar’ have always been connected; after Constantine, however, Christianity shaped and influenced in a significant way the history of the Empire of the Caesars. The religious sphere pervaded thus every issue of the public life, in Constantinople as well as in the periphery; as a matter of fact, Christianity was used as a tool to subject people to the imperial ideology. Although framed as a religious discourse, it came to be a process of cultural assimilation; however powerful, this mechanism was not always so easy to perform. In fact, we have to bear in mind the particularities of the religions
Read more

IL MONDO NEL QUINTO SECOLO DELL’ERA VOLGARE: COSA SUCCEDE NELL'IMPERO SASSANIDE

-
Image
MONETA DELL'ETA' DI KAVAD I (Copyright Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. / CREATIVE COMMONS) L’IMPERO SASSANIDE NEL QUINTO SECOLO DELL’ERA VOLGARE     Il quinto secolo dell'Era Volgare si presenta come un periodo di significativi cambiamenti; i sovrani che regnano in questo periodo, in effetti, sono generalmente deboli e ve n gono contrastati dai nobili e dalla classe sacerdotale. I tentativi di riportare il controllo saldamente nelle mani del sovrano, poi, furono scarsi ed ebbero poco successo. Si pensi, a tale proposito, a Yagzdgerd I, che cerco di ridurre il crescente potere della nobilt à  e dei sacerdoti zoroastriani, ma senza riuscirvi; l'impero rimaneva, comunque, altamente centralizzato, conservando la sua efficacia. In effetti, la complessit à  raggiunta dall'apparato amministrativo era tale da riuscire a sopravvivere nonostante la corona fosse debole. Una situazione del genere, come si pu ò  facilmente intuire, indeboliva ulteriormente il sovrano, avvantagg
Read more