Editing Saxons (section)

=====Christian literature=====
In the ninth century, the Saxon nobility became vigorous supporters of [[monasticism]] and formed a bulwark of Christianity against the existing [[Slavic paganism]] to the east and the [[Nordic paganism]] of the [[Vikings]] to the north. Much Christian literature was produced in the vernacular [[Old Saxon]], the notable ones being a result of the literary output and wide influence of Saxon monasteries such as [[Abbey of Fulda|Fulda]], [[Abbey of Corvey|Corvey]] and [[Verden an der Aller|Verden]]; and the theological controversy between the [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]], [[Gottschalk (theologian)|Gottschalk]] and [[Rabanus Maurus]].{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=477}}

From an early date, Charlemagne and [[Louis the Pious]] supported Christian [[vernacular literature|vernacular]] works in order to evangelise the Saxons more efficiently. The ''[[Heliand]]'', a verse epic of the life of Christ in a Germanic setting, and ''Genesis'', another epic retelling of the events of [[Book of Genesis|the first book of the Bible]], were commissioned in the early ninth century by Louis to disseminate scriptural knowledge to the masses. A council of [[Tours]] in 813 and then a synod of [[Mainz]] in 848 both declared that [[Homily|homilies]] ought to be preached in the vernacular. The earliest preserved text in the Saxon language is a [[Old Saxon Baptismal Vow|baptismal vow]] from the late eighth or early ninth century; the vernacular was used extensively in an effort to Christianise the lowest castes of Saxon society.{{Sfn|Hummer|2005|p=138–139}}