Editing Suebi (section)

==Suevian Kingdom of Gallaecia==
{{main|Kingdom of the Suebi}}
[[File:Suebic migrations.jpg|thumbnail|400px|Suebic migrations across Europe.]]

===Migration===
Suebi under king [[Hermeric]], probably coming from the Alemanni, the Quadi, or both,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=López Quiroga |first1=Jorge |title=Elementos foráneos en las necrópolis tardorromanas de Beiral (Ponte de Lima, Portugal) y Vigo (Pontevedra, España): de nuevo la cuestión del siglo V d. C. en la Península Ibérica |journal=CuPAUAM |date=2001 |volume=27 |pages=115–124 |url=https://www.uam.es/otros/cupauam/pdf/Cupauam27/2706.pdf |access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref> worked their way into the south of France, eventually crossing the [[Pyrenees]] and entering the [[Iberian Peninsula]] which was no longer under Imperial rule since the rebellion of [[Gerontius (magister militum)|Gerontius]] and [[Maximus of Hispania|Maximus]] in 409.

Passing through the [[Basque Country (historical territory)|Basque country]], they settled in the Roman province of [[Gallaecia]], in north-western [[Hispania]] (modern [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Asturias]], and the northern half of [[Portugal]]), where, swearing fealty to Emperor [[Honorius (emperor)|Honorius]], they were accepted as ''[[foederati]]'' and permitted to settle under their own autonomous governance. Contemporaneously with the self-governing province of [[Sub-Roman Britain|Britannia]], the kingdom of the Suebi in Gallaecia became the first of the sub-Roman kingdoms to be formed in the disintegrating territory of the Western Roman Empire. Suebic Gallaecia was the first kingdom separated from the Roman Empire to mint coins.

The Suebic kingdom in [[Gallaecia]] and northern [[Lusitania]] was established in 409 and lasted until 585. Smaller than the [[Ostrogoths|Ostrogothic]] kingdom of Italy or the [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] kingdom in [[Hispania]], it reached a relative stability and prosperity—and even expanded military southwards—despite the occasional quarrels with the neighbouring Visigothic kingdom.

===Settlement===
[[File:Suevos.JPG|thumb|right|Road sign at the village of Suevos, [[Ames, A Coruña|Ames]] ([[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]).]]
[[File:Sueben coin II.jpg|thumb|Golden coin from the [[Kingdom of the Suebi]], 410–500 AD]]

The Germanic invaders and immigrants settled mainly in rural areas, as [[Idacius]] clearly stated: "The Hispanic, spread over cities and [[oppidum|oppida]]..." and the "Barbarians, govern over the provinces". According to [[Dan Stanislawski]], the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] way of living in Northern regions is mostly inherited from the Suebi, in which small farms prevail, distinct from the large properties of Southern Portugal. Bracara Augusta, the modern city of [[Braga]] and former capital of Roman Gallaecia, became the capital of the Suebi. [[Paulus Orosius|Orosius]], at that time resident in Hispania, shows a rather pacific initial settlement, the newcomers working their lands<ref>"the barbarians, detesting their swords, turn them into ploughs", ''Historiarum Adversum Paganos'', VII, 41, 6.</ref> or serving as bodyguards of the locals.<ref>"anyone wanting to leave or to depart, uses these barbarians as mercenaries, servers or defenders", ''Historiarum Adversum Paganos'', VII, 41, 4.</ref> Another Germanic group that accompanied the Suebi and settled in Gallaecia were the [[Buri (Germanic tribe)|Buri]]. They settled in the region between the rivers [[Cávado River|Cávado]] and [[Homem River|Homem]], in the area known as [[Terras de Bouro]] (Lands of the Buri), Portugal.<ref>Domingos Maria da Silva, ''Os Búrios'', Terras de Bouro, Câmara Municipal de Terras de Bouro, 2006. (in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]])</ref>

As the Suebi quickly adopted the local [[Iberian Romance languages|language]], few traces were left of their Germanic tongue, but for some words and for [[Germanic personal names in Galicia#Names used by the Suevi|their personal and land names]], adopted by most of the Gallaeci.<ref>Medieval Galician records show more than 1500 different Germanic names in use for over 70% of the local population. Also, in Galicia, Northern and Central Portugal, there are more than 5.000 toponyms (villages and towns) based on personal Germanic names ([[Mondariz]] < *villa *Mundarici; [[Baltar, Ourense|Baltar]] < *villa *Baldarii; [[Gomesende]] < *villa *Gumesenþi; [[Gondomar, Portugal|Gondomar]] < *villa *Gunþumari...); and several toponyms not based on personal names, mainly in Galicia (Malburgo, [[Samos, Lugo|Samos]] < Samanos "Congregated", near a hundred Saa/Sá < *Sala "house, palace"...); and some lexical influence on the [[Galician language]] and [[Portuguese language]], such as:<br />''laverca'' "[[lark]]" < protogermanic *laiwarikō "lark"<br />''brasa'' "torch; ember" < protogermanic *blasōn "torch"<br />''britar'' "to break" < protogermanic *breutan "to break"<br />''lobio'' "vine gallery" < protogermanic *laubjōn "leaves"<br />''ouva'' "elf" < protogermanic *albaz "elf"<br />''trigar'' "to urge" < protogermanic *þreunhan "to urge"<br />''maga'' "guts (of fish)" < protogermanic *magōn "stomach"</ref> In Galicia four [[parish]]es and six villages are named ''Suevos'' or ''Suegos'', i.e. ''Sueves'', after old Suebic settlements.

===Establishment===
[[File:Espada sueva - Conimbriga.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Suebic sword. Conimbriga, Portugal]]
The [[Visigoths]] were sent in 416 by the emperor Honorius to fight the Germanic invaders in Hispania, but they were re-settled in 417 by the Romans  as ''foederati'' in Aquitania after completely defeating the [[Alans]] and the [[Silingi]] Vandals. The absence of competition permitted first, the [[Asdingi]] Vandals, and later, the Suebi, to expand south and east. After the departure of the Vandals for Africa in 429 Roman authority in the peninsula was reasserted for 10 years except in northwest where the Suevi were confined. In its heyday Suebic Gallaecia extended as far south as [[Mérida, Spain|Mérida]] and [[Seville]], capitals of the Roman provinces of [[Lusitania]] and [[Betica]], while their expeditions reached [[Zaragoza]] and [[Lleida]] after taking the Roman capital, Mérida, in 439. The previous year 438 [[Hermeric]] ratified the peace with the [[Gallaeci]], the local and partially romanized rural population, and, weary of fighting, abdicated in favour of his son [[Requila|Rechila]], who proved to be a notable general, defeating first Andevotus, ''Romanae militiae dux'',<ref>Isidorus Hispalensis, ''[[Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum]]'', 85</ref> and later [[Vitus (magister militum)|Vitus ''magister utriusque militiae'']]. In 448, [[Rechila]] died, leaving the crown to his son [[Rechiar]] who had converted to Roman Catholicism c. 447. Soon, he married a daughter of the Gothic king [[Theodoric I]], and began a wave of attacks on the [[Hispania Tarraconensis|Tarraconense]], still a Roman province. By 456 the campaigns of [[Rechiar]] clashed with the interests of the Visigoths, and a large army of Roman federates (Visigoths under the command of [[Theodoric II]], [[Burgundians]] directed by kings [[Gundioc]] and [[Chilperic I of Burgundy|Chilperic]]) crossed the [[Pyrenees]] into Hispania, and defeated the Suebi near modern-day [[Astorga, Spain|Astorga]]. Rechiar was executed after being captured by his brother-in-law, the Visigothic king Theodoric II. In 459, the Roman emperor [[Majorian]] defeated the Suebi, briefly restoring Roman rule in northern [[Hispania]]. Nevertheless, the Suebi became free of Roman control forever after Majorian was assassinated two years later. The Suebic kingdom was confined in the northwest in Gallaecia and northern Lusitania where political division and civil war arose among several pretenders to the royal throne. After years of turmoil, [[Remismund]] was recognized as the sole king of the Suebi, bringing forth a politic of friendship with the Visigoths, and favoring the conversion of his people to [[Arianism]].

===Last years of the kingdom===
[[Image:Hispania3c.JPG|thumb|The Suebic kingdom of Gallaecia (green), c. 550, (with borders of the former Roman provinces of Hispania)]]

In 561 king Ariamir called the catholic [[First Council of Braga]], which dealt with the old problem of the [[Priscillianism]] heresy. Eight years after, in 569, king Theodemir called the [[First Council of Lugo]],<ref>Ferreiro, 199 n11.</ref> in order to increase the number of dioceses within his kingdom. Its acts have been preserved through a medieval resume known as ''Parrochiale Suevorum'' or ''Divisio Theodemiri''.

===Defeat by the Visigoths===
In 570 the Arian king of the Visigoths, [[Leovigild]], made his first attack on the Suebi. Between 572 and 574, Leovigild invaded the valley of the [[Douro]], pushing the Suebi west and northwards. In 575 the Suebic king, [[Miro of Gallaecia|Miro]], made a peace treaty with Leovigild in what seemed to be the beginning of a new period of stability. Yet, in 583 Miro supported the rebellion of the Catholic Gothic prince [[Hermenegild]], engaging in military action against king Leovigild, although Miro was defeated in Seville when trying to break on through the blockade on the Catholic prince. As a result, he was forced to recognize Leovigild as friend and protector, for him and for his successors, dying back home just some months later. His son, king [[Eboric]], confirmed the friendship with Leovigild, but he was deposed just a year later by his brother-in-law [[Andeca|Audeca]], giving Leovigild an excuse to attack the kingdom. In 585 AD, first Audeca and later [[Malaric]], were defeated and the Suebic kingdom was incorporated into the Visigothic one as its sixth province. The Suebi were respected in their properties and freedom, and continued to dwell in Gallaecia, finally merging with the rest of the local population during the early Middle Ages.

===Religion===

====Conversion to Arianism====
The Suebi remained mostly pagan, and their subjects [[Priscillianism|Priscillianist]] until an [[Arianism|Arian]] missionary named [[Ajax (missionary)|Ajax]], sent by the Visigothic king Theodoric II at the request of the Suebic unifier [[Remismund]], in 466 converted them and established a lasting Arian church which dominated the people until the conversion to Trinitarian Catholicism the 560s.

====Conversion to Orthodox Trinitarianism====
Mutually incompatible accounts of the conversion of the Suebi to Orthodox Catholic Trinitarian Christianity of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils are presented in the primary records:

* The minutes of the [[First Council of Braga]]—which met on 1 May 561—state explicitly that the synod was held at the orders of a king named [[Ariamir]]. Of the eight assistant bishops, just one bears a Suebic name: Hildemir. While the Catholicism of Ariamir is not in doubt, that he was the first Chalcedonian monarch of the Suebi since Rechiar has been contested on the grounds that his Catholicism is not explicitly stated.{{Clarify|date=March 2011}}<!--His Catholicism is not in doubt, but is contested (because it isn't stated)? This is a contradiction if there ever was one.--><ref name = "Thompson86"/> He was, however, the first Suebic monarch to hold a Catholic synod, and when the [[Second Council of Braga]] was held at the request of king [[Miro (Suevic king)|Miro]], a Catholic himself,<ref>St. Martin on Braga wrote in his [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/martinbraga/formula.shtml Formula Vitae Honestae] ''Gloriosissimo ac tranquillissimo et insigni catholicae fidei praedito pietate Mironi regi''</ref> in 572, of the twelve assistant bishops five bears Suebic names: Remisol of [[Viseu]], Adoric of [[Idanha-a-Velha|Idanha]], Wittimer of [[Ourense]], Nitigis of [[Lugo]] and Anila of [[Tui, Galicia|Tui]].
* The ''[[Historia Suevorum]]'' of [[Isidore of Seville]] states that a king named [[Theodemir (Suebian king)|Theodemar]] brought about the conversion of his people from [[Arianism]] with the help of the missionary [[Martin of Dumio]].<ref>Ferreiro, 198 n8.</ref>
* According to the [[Franks|Frankish]] historian [[Gregory of Tours]], on the other hand, an otherwise unknown sovereign named [[Chararic (Suevic king)|Chararic]], having heard of [[Martin of Tours]], promised to accept the beliefs of the saint if only his son would be cured of [[leprosy]]. Through the relics and intercession of Saint Martin the son was healed; Chararic and the entire royal household converted to the [[Nicene Creed|Nicene faith]].<ref name="Thompson83">Thompson, 83.</ref>
* By 589, when the [[Third Council of Toledo]] was held, and the Visigoth Kingdom of Toledo converted officially from Arianism to Catholicism, king [[Reccared I]] stated in its minutes that also "an infinite number of Suebi have converted", together with the Goths, which implies that the earlier conversion was either superficial or partial. In the same council, four bishops from Gallaecia abjured of their Arianism. And so, the Suebic conversion is ascribed, not to a Suebe, but to a Visigoth by [[John of Biclarum]], who puts their conversion alongside that of the Goths, occurring under Reccared I in 587–589.<!--an essential summary here would report Knut Schäferdiek, ''Die Kirche in den Reichen der Westgoten und Suewen bis zur Errichtung der westgotischen katholischen Staatskirche.'' 1967:214-28.-->

Most scholars have attempted to meld these stories. It has been alleged that Chararic and Theodemir must have been successors of Ariamir, since Ariamir was the first Suebic monarch to lift the ban on Catholic synods; Isidore therefore gets the chronology wrong.<ref>Thompson, 87.</ref><ref>Ferreiro, 199.</ref> Reinhart suggested that Chararic was converted first through the [[relics]] of Saint Martin and that Theodemir was converted later through the preaching of Martin of Dumio.<ref name="Thompson86">Thompson, 86.</ref> Dahn equated Chararic with Theodemir, even saying that the latter was the name he took upon baptism.<ref name="Thompson86"/> It has also been suggested that Theodemir and Ariamir were the same person and the son of Chararic.<ref name="Thompson86"/> In the opinion of some historians, Chararic is nothing more than an error on the part of Gregory of Tours and never existed.<ref>Thompson, 88.</ref> If, as Gregory relates, Martin of Dumio died about the year 580 and had been bishop for about thirty years, then the conversion of Chararic must have occurred around 550 at the latest.<ref name="Thompson83"/> Finally, Ferreiro believes the conversion of the Suebi was progressive and stepwise and that Chararic's public conversion was only followed by the lifting of a ban on Catholic synods in the reign of his successor, which would have been Ariamir; Thoedemir was responsible for beginning a persecution of the Arians in his kingdom to root out their heresy.<ref>Ferreiro, 207.</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Galicia - Quiroga Chi Rho.jpg|Christian [[Chi Rho]] on a 5th-century marble table, [[Quiroga, Galicia|Quiroga]], [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]].
File:Fíbulas suevas.jpg|Suebic and Roman fibullae from [[Conimbriga]], Portugal
</gallery>