History of Christianity in Spain before 711 AD

Indigenous peoples and languages of the Iberian peninsula pre-dated Greek and Phoenician colonies, and conquests by Carthage and later Rome. For example, the languages spoken in the dark orange areas on the map (right) are classified as "Iberian" (non-Indo-European). 

Roman domination replaced Carthaginian during the Second Punic War in 218 BC, although there were wars of resistance to Roman rule into the 100s BC, and the process of Romanisation lasted into the first century BC. The Romans called the peninusula "Hispania". Under the Romans Latin became the dominant language, by the 800s evolving into what is now Spanish (and Portuguese). 

Writing the letter to the Romans sometime around 57-59 AD, the Apostle Paul expressed his desire to preach in what is now Spain. Based on references in Clement of Rome and the Muratorian Fragment, Paul may well have fulfilled his ambition, perhaps sometime between AD 63 and AD 67. A far less reliable tradition claims James the Great, son of Zebedee and brother of John (Spanish "Sant' Iago" or "Santiago"), ministered in Spain prior to his death by martyrdom at Jerusalem in 44 AD. According to an unreliable tradition, after his death, his remains were transported by ship to Spain and buried at Santiago de Compostelo. More reliably, Tertullian listed "Hispania" among places where Christianity had spread in his time (approx. 200 AD). 

The first hard evidence of a Christian presence in Spain dates to the mid-third century. There are Christian graves at Tarragona (north east coast) dating back to this time. In correspondence dating to 254, Cyprian of Carthage refers to Basilides, bishop of the joint bishopric of Leon and Astorga, and Martial, bishop of Merida. Both had succumbed to persecution, obtaining fake libelli (certificates) of their reversion to paganism. The lapsed bishops were replaced by Felix and Sabinus. Fructuosus was martyred shortly thereafter at Tarragona, in 259. Marcellus and Cassian were martyred at Tangier in North Africa (then considered part of Hispania). Fourth-century Prudentius (below) recorded for posterity the martyrdoms under Diocletian in the period 303-311, the most venerated being Vincent who died at Saguntum.  

During the fourth century, various church councils were held in Spain, including Elvira (305 or 306), Saragossa (380) and the First Council of Toledo (400). Hosius bishop of Corduba played a leading role at the 325 Council of Nicea. The fourth-century Pope Damasus was of Spanish origin. Prudentius (d. 408) had a career as a lawyer and in government before becoming a Christian ascetic around 392, devoting his energies to Christian poetry and polemics. The hymns "Of the Father's love begotten" and "Earth has many a noble city" are his work.   

As the western Roman Empire waned, for a time in the early 400s, incoming Suebi, Vandals and Alans held sway in Iberia. Then, from 418, the peninsula (along with parts of southwestern France)  occupied by the Germanic Visigoths, whose religion was likewise Arian Christianity, a heresy. For over a hundred years the Arian Visigoth kingdom dominated the Nicene Christian population of Spain. For a brief time, the Empire of Constantinople had a presence in Spain. 

It was Bishop Isidore of Seville (right on picture) who, in the 500s, managed to win over the Arians to orthodox Christianity, a conversion confirmed at the Council of Toledo in 589, presided over by two men bearing the name Leander. Controversially this involved reference to the "filioque" clause, which spoke of the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father *and also from the Son* (Filioque). Having converted to Nicene Christianity, the Visigothic kings of Spain supported the Christian church. 

In 711 Visigothic Spain was invaded and taken over by the Moors from North Africa. Spain was only finally "retaken" in the 15th century (the "Reconquista"). 

 

[To be amplified] 

Sources 

Meyrick, F., Church in Spain, Wells Gardner, Darton & Co. (London, 1892)