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Amulo Lugdunensis (also known as: Amalo, Amulon, Amolo, Amularius) served as
Archbishop of Lyon The Archdiocese of Lyon (Latin: ''Archidiœcesis Lugdunensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Lyon''), formerly the Archdiocese of Lyon–Vienne–Embrun, is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The Archbishops ...
from 841 to 852 AD. As a Gallic prelate, Amulo is best known for his letters concerning two major themes: Christian–Jewish relations in the Frankish kingdom and the Carolingian controversy over
predestination Predestination, in theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the paradox of free will, whereby G ...
. He was ordained as
archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
in January 841. Amulo was a disciple of his predecessor
Agobard Agobard of Lyon (–840) was a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon, during the Carolingian Renaissance. The author of multiple treatises, ranging in subject matter from the iconoclast controversy to Spanish Adoptionism to critiques of the ...
and inherited many of his ideas.West, "Unauthorised Miracles", 297. Amulo collaborated closely with both
Remigius of Lyon Remigius (died October 28, 875) was archbishop of Lyon. He worked closely with his predecessor, Archbishop Amulo, Amulo of Lyons, before his elevation to the episcopate on March 31, 852. He played a prominent part in French ecclesiastical history. ...
, who later succeeded him, and
Florus of Lyon Florus of Lyon ( la, Florus Lugdunensis), a deacon in Lyon, was an ecclesiastical writer in the first half of the ninth century. A theologian, canonist, liturgist, and poet, he ran the scriptorium at Lyons. He was considered one of the foremost auth ...
who served as scribe for Amulo; hence it is not always clear which of Amulo's letters were actually penned by him."Amulo Lugdunesis," In ''Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais''. 735–987, vol. 1, ed. M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman (Tournout: Brepols, 1994), 144. He also worked with
Hincmar Hincmar (; ; la, Hincmarus; 806 – 21 December 882), archbishop of Reims, was a Frankish jurist and theologian, as well as the friend, advisor and propagandist of Charles the Bald. He belonged to a noble family of northern Francia. Biography Ea ...
Archbishop of Reims The Archdiocese of Reims (traditionally spelt "Rheims" in English) ( la, Archidiœcesis Remensis; French: ''Archidiocèse de Reims'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastic territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese ...
regarding anti-Jewish policies and the debate with
Gottschalk of Orbais Gottschalk (Latin: Godescalc, Gotteschalchus) of Orbais (c. 808 – 30 October 868 AD) was a Saxon theologian, monk and poet. Gottschalk was an early advocate for the doctrine of two-fold predestination, an issue that ripped through both Italy an ...
over predestination. Like his predecessor, Amulo was unable to bring about anti-Jewish policies into the
Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was a large Frankish-dominated empire in western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lom ...
. However, he actively pursued "a policy of coercion against pro-Jewish Christians," within his diocese, and his sermons were imbued with anti-Jewish teachings. His work was influential during the mid-ninth century – most notably his ''Contra Judaeos'' and his involvement in the
Council of Meaux–Paris The Council of Meaux–Paris was a church council that first met on 17 June 845 in Meaux and finished its work at Paris on 2 February 846.Alfred Boretius and Victor Krause, eds. (1897), ''Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Capitularia Regum Francorum' ...
in 845. These decrees were not ratified by
Charles the Bald Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a ser ...
, since his magnates saw them as interfering with the traditional Carolingian policies regarding Jews; the Canons proposed at Paris–Meaux sought to revive earlier Visigothic laws, including Canon LXXIIII which prohibited Christians from "showing favour to Jews''."'' Nevertheless, both Amulo and his predecessor were instrumental in spreading anti-Jewish attitudes in the Carolingean court, which eventually sparked changes in "both
exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Ancient Greek, Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation (logic), interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Bible, Biblical works. In modern usage, ...
and
canon law Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...
."


Influences

Carolingian theologians and scholars were widely influenced by Jewish texts during the ninth century.Albert, "Adversus Iudaeos", 142. Figures such as
Rabanus Maurus Rabanus Maurus Magnentius ( 780 – 4 February 856), also known as Hrabanus or Rhabanus, was a Frankish Benedictine monk, theologian, poet, encyclopedist and military writer who became archbishop of Mainz in East Francia. He was the author of the ...
, Angelomus of Luxeuil,
Claudius of Turin Claudius of Turin (or Claude) ('' fl.'' 810–827)M. Gorman 1997, p. 279S. F. Wemple 1974, p. 222 was the Catholic bishop of Turin from 817 until his death. He was a courtier of Louis the Pious and was a writer during the Carolingian Renaissanc ...
and
Theodulf of Orléans Theodulf of Orléans (Saragossa, Spain, 750(/60) – 18 December 821) was a writer, poet and the Bishop of Orléans (c. 798 to 818) during the reign of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious. He was a key member of the Carolingian Renaissance and an im ...
demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Jewish teachings, but this generated an anti-Jewish reaction. Several contemporaries of Amulo – including Rabanus and Angelomus – held the traditional view of Jews as a people who refused to accept Christ due to their blindness. Knowledge of Hebrew and Greek was uncommon; it is likely that Jewish texts were merely cited to affirm the orthodoxy of the Church, and did not rely on accuracy. Amulo was an exception to this rule: he had at least a working knowledge of Hebrew, and his complex theological arguments affirm his knowledge of Hebrew scripture and Jewish scholarship.Albert, "Adversus Iudaeos", 120. Most of Amulo's works also directly refer to the
Church Fathers The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were ancient and influential Christian theologians and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity. The historical per ...
, including
Saint Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...
,
Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...
, and
Gregory the Great Pope Gregory I ( la, Gregorius I; – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was the bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 to his death. He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregori ...
. He mostly wrote on issues concerning Jewish mysticism, predestination, and
Halakha ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
which were not known to the patristic authors. These works were often quoted to support polemical arguments. Similarly, Amulo demonstrates his knowledge of Jewish texts to strengthen his position. It is clear from his writings that Scripture was insufficient; a wide base of Church scholarship fueled debates between dioceses over Christ's nature, Jewish tradition, and superstition. Both Amulo and Agobard strove to counter Jewish influence in
Francia Francia, also called the Kingdom of the Franks ( la, Regnum Francorum), Frankish Kingdom, Frankland or Frankish Empire ( la, Imperium Francorum), was the largest post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe. It was ruled by the Franks dur ...
, and worked to convince Christians that they ought to limit their interaction with the Jewish population of Lyon. In both Agobard and Amulo's works, they express concern that Christians preferred to attend Jewish services rather than those of their own priests. Amulo objected to Jewish scholars
Josephus Flavius Josephus (; grc-gre, Ἰώσηπος, ; 37 – 100) was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian and military leader, best known for ''The Jewish War'', who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly d ...
and
Philo Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. Philo's deplo ...
in 844–845, and his writings were echoed by both Angelomus and
Rabanus Maurus Rabanus Maurus Magnentius ( 780 – 4 February 856), also known as Hrabanus or Rhabanus, was a Frankish Benedictine monk, theologian, poet, encyclopedist and military writer who became archbishop of Mainz in East Francia. He was the author of the ...
; these texts were becoming more popular amongst Christians than Scripture. There was also concern that close “friendly” contact between Jews and Christians in Lyon would lead to a widespread conversion to Judaism within their diocese.


Predestination

Amulo was included among many prelates working to oppose Gottschalk of Orbais (c. 870) and his teachings of two-fold predestination. By 864, Gottschalk had settled in
Friuli Friuli ( fur, Friûl, sl, Furlanija, german: Friaul) is an area of Northeast Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity containing 1,000,000 Friulians. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia ...
under the patronage of Eberhard and was covertly spreading his doctrine in Italy and
Noricum Noricum () is the Latin name for the Celts, Celtic kingdom or federation of tribes that included most of modern Austria and part of Slovenia. In the first century AD, it became a Roman province, province of the Roman Empire. Its borders were th ...
.It has been suggested that "''Civilia negotia"'' may also be translated as "public affairs." This implies that Gottschalk's influence in Orbais reached beyond the ecclesiastical (see Genke, ''Gottschalk'', 25.) He had followers in Saxony, Germany, and later in the Balkan regions. From the writings of Rabanus, it is clear that Gottschalk had gained sufficient popularity to pose a theological threat to the Church – and not merely in the Carolingian heartlands of Francia.Genke, ''Gottschalk'', 27. Gottschalk challenged both the structure and doctrine of the Church. He was raised in a monastery at Fulda, which was a focus for missionaries in Germany and central to Louis the Pious' vision of a "Christian" empire.Genke, ''Gottschalk'', 46. As a monk, Gottschalk twice defied the
Order of Saint Benedict The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict ( la, Ordo Sancti Benedicti, abbreviated as OSB), are a Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), religious order of the Catholic Church following the Rule of Saint Benedic ...
: first, in 849 at a council at Mainz, he nearly succeeded in freeing himself from monkhood, when by rule he was born to serve from ''pueritia'' for life.Genke, ''Gottschalk'', 15. Rabanus sought to ensure that Gottschalk did not set a precedent for other monks, and called a second council at the
Diet of Worms The Diet of Worms of 1521 (german: Reichstag zu Worms ) was an imperial diet (a formal deliberative assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire called by Emperor Charles V and conducted in the Imperial Free City of Worms. Martin Luther was summoned to t ...
in 829. Consequentially, Gottschalk was again "forced to take the monastic vows." Second, Gottschalk defied the Benedictine law of ''stabilitas loci'', by leaving his monastic duties for southwest Italy. Primarily, his motivations were political. Gottschalk was a disciple of
Ebbo Ebbo or Ebo ( – 20 March 851) was the Archbishop of Rheims from 816 until 835 and again from 840 to 841. He was born a German serf on the royal demesne of Charlemagne. He was educated at his court and became the librarian and councillor ...
, Archbishop of Reims, and this connection rapidly became controversial. Ebbo sided with
Lothair I Lothair I or Lothar I (Dutch and Medieval Latin: ''Lotharius''; German: ''Lothar''; French: ''Lothaire''; Italian: ''Lotario'') (795 – 29 September 855) was emperor (817–855, co-ruling with his father until 840), and the governor of Bavar ...
against Louis during the civil war of 833, and was deposed when Louis returned to power. Ebbo spent the remainder of his life attempting to replace his successor,
Hincmar Hincmar (; ; la, Hincmarus; 806 – 21 December 882), archbishop of Reims, was a Frankish jurist and theologian, as well as the friend, advisor and propagandist of Charles the Bald. He belonged to a noble family of northern Francia. Biography Ea ...
. Around 833–835 Gottschalk was relocated to Orbais; but he was accused of conspiring with Ebbo against Hincmar and needed to escape persecution. Rigbold of Rheims briefly served as archbishop before Hincmar was appointed, from 835 to 845. Rigbold ordained Gottschalk as a missionary without the consent of bishop Rothad of Soissons, where Orbais was located. Gottschalk's ordination disrupted both monastic law and social order; he was later prosecuted at the 849 council in Quierzy (see
Councils of Quierzy Several councils were held at Quierzy, a royal residence under the Carolingians, but now an insignificant village on the Oise in the French Department of Aisne in Picardy. The synod of September 838, ordered the monks of the abbey of Saint-Calais in ...
) for disturbing “both ecclesiastical and civil affairs.” The case of Gottschalk is relevant to Amulo's prelature in two ways: first, Gottschalk was an erudite theologian, and his Augustinian view of predestination cited the same Church Fathers present in Amulo's works. Notably, he was also supported by
Prudentius of Troyes Prudentius (? in Aragon, Spain – 6 April 861 at Troyes, France) was bishop of Troyes, a chronicler and an opponent of Hincmar of Reims in the controversy on predestination. Life Prudentius left Spain in his youth and came to the Frankish Empir ...
, in opposition to Hincmar. It is clear that Hincmar also began to have doubts: he wrote to five prelates from the church in Lyon for advice, including
Amalarius Amalarius (''c''. 775–''c''. 850) was a Frankish prelate and courtier, temporary bishop of Trier (812–13) and Lyon (835–38), and an accomplished liturgist. He was close to Charlemagne and a partisan of his successor, Louis the Pious, througho ...
. Amalarius was appointed by Louis to replace Agobard as archbishop in Lyon, where he served from 833 to 838. Among other prelates, Amalarius sided with
Eriugena John Scotus Eriugena, also known as Johannes Scotus Erigena, John the Scot, or John the Irish-born ( – c. 877) was an Irish people, Irish Neoplatonism, Neoplatonist Philosophy, philosopher, Theology, theologian and poet of the Early M ...
against Gottschalk in the predestination debate. However, his liturgical reforms – emphasizing the ceremonial importance of both the Eucharist and Mass – were seen as excessive by the Church. He was deposed and accused of heresy at the same council which condemned Gottschalk in 838. Agobard actively condemned Amalarius's liturgical methods, and was able to regain imperial favour. He was restored as archbishop in Lyon, and Amulo succeeded him upon his death. Royalty was almost always involved in matters of faith. In 849, King Charles the Bald himself began to ponder the issue of predestination. However, the draconian punishments administered by Hincmar at the council of Quierzy in 849 clearly affirm the power of Church hierarchies in ninth-century Francia. Florus of Lyon was highly critical of the verdict; it also clearly deviated from canon law. Gottschalk remained "convinced that his ideas were orthodox," and he persisted in his controversial doctrines. There was no definitive end to the predestination debate, and the Church maintained its position. Gottschalk raised a long-dormant theological question, but the 860 synod in Tusey merely reaffirmed the Church's initial position. Hincmar and his supporters were at an impasse with Gottschalk – there was no room for dialogue, and Gottschalk was incarcerated at Hautvillers in 849 until his death. It was during this time that Amulo began to correspond with him. The tone of Amulo's letters imply that he may have viewed the stability and unity of the Church as a prerogative over the question of predestination. His ''Epistula ad Gothescalcum monachum'' or "Letter to Monk Gottschalk" is more reminiscent of paternal advice than theological attack. Similarly, his ''Opusculum Gratiam itaque Dei'' on "The Grace of God" asserts that predestination should primarily be viewed as an affirmation of Christian humility: it should not lead to "despair".


Anti-Judaic polemic

In both his anti-Judaic writings and his scholarship, it is unlikely that Amulo was motivated solely by anti-Semitism. He was mainly concerned by the power and influence held by Jews under the administration of King Charles the Bald.Russell, ''Dissent and Reform'', 48. These tolerant policies towards Jews were a continuation of those of Emperor Louis the Pious. They allowed economic concessions and legal protection of Jews under the ''lex Judaica'' and were a sore point for some prelates in
Frankish Gaul Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during Rep ...
. Agobard epitomises the conflict of interest between the Church and Frankish state, and this tension carried over into Amulo's work. Agobard was known for his anti-Jewish campaigns and was involved in the revolt against Louis in 833. When Louis regained the throne in 834, Agobard was sent into exile and temporarily replaced by Amalarius of Metz, former archbishop of Trier, who was more favourably disposed towards Jews. When Amalarius was condemned for heresy in 838, Agobard was reappointed as archbishop; despite his return to imperial favour, both Agobard and Amulo persisted in their anti-Judaic polemic. Amidst the chaos preceding the 843
Treaty of Verdun The Treaty of Verdun (), agreed in , divided the Francia, Frankish Empire into three kingdoms among the surviving sons of the emperor Louis the Pious, Louis I, the son and successor of Charlemagne. The treaty was concluded following almost three ...
, Archbishop Hincmar of Rheims drafted a proposal with three primary aims: to reinforce ecclesiastical power by preventing laymen from becoming prelates; to reclaim all property that had been previously owned by the church; to eliminate all privileges granted to Jews during Louis' reign.Bachrach, "Jewish Policy", 107. Amulo was instrumental in the 846 Meaux-Paris council in the
Diocese of Meaux The Roman Catholic Diocese of Meaux (Latin: ''Dioecesis Meldensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Meaux'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The diocese comprises the entire department of Seine-et-Marne. It was suff ...
, which planned the implementation of Hincmar's anti-Jewish policies. This council was a Church attempt to exercise power independently of the royal court – but Charles formally rejected their proposal at Épernay in 846, and made it clear that he intended to uphold his father's "pro-Jewish" policies. Amulo is listed among the attendees at this council.Albert, "Adversus Iudaeos", 141. Amulo experienced the same conflict of interest with Charles the Bald as his predecessor Agobard had with Louis the Pious. His treatise ''Liber contra Judaeos ad Carolum regem'' or "Letter Against Jews to King Charles" comprehensively lays out his anti-Jewish theses. It is clear from Amulo's writings that Christian–Jewish interaction in Lyon was common. Amulo had three major concerns within his diocese: first, he was concerned with the popularity and influence of Jewish scholarship and anti-Christian texts. Jewish rabbis were also permitted to hold public services, and Amulo worried that Christians in Lyon were more interested in Jewish teachings than attending services within his diocese. Second, Jews could hold public office and encourage Christian or pagan conversion with secular incentives. This was particularly sensitive in matters of slavery or tax collection; in ''Contra Judaeos'', Amulo asserts that "Jewish tax collectors" were converting Christians, particularly in less populated areas. Jews no longer had to pay a "religious tax", and in some cases, Jewish merchants were exempt from paying tolls or other imperial dues. Third, Jews and Christians commonly shared traditions or daily practices. Many Christians chose to "work on Sunday" and "rest on the Jewish Sabbath", in part because Louis the Pious had changed market days to accommodate Jewish merchants.Bachrach, "Jewish Policy", 110. It was also common for Christians to celebrate Jewish feast days and eat kosher foods. Amulo was furthermore concerned over the ''liturgical'' versus ''doctrinal'' influence of Jewish beliefs – he worried that the "mysticism" of
Midrashim ''Midrash'' (;"midrash"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''.
he, מִדְרָשׁ; ...
and "Talmudic traditions" would translate into Christian worship.


Jewish scholarship

Jewish texts were widely circulated in the Carolingian world – many of them, most notably the
Toledot Yeshu (, ''The Book of the Generations/History/Life of Jesus''), often abbreviated as ''Toledot Yeshu'', is an early Jewish text taken to be an alternative biography of Jesus of Nazareth. It exists in a number of different versions, none of which is c ...
, were blatantly anti-Christian. Amulo could likely read Hebrew or corresponded with those who could. Public worship for Jews was also legalised during the Carolingian period – these reforms were subsequently upheld by Louis and his son Charles. Amulo is very specific in his criticisms of Hebraic scripture, but there are also cases where he conflates the ''Cthib'' (text-based) and ''Qri'' (oral) bibles.Williams, "Amulo", 361. This suggests that he could have relied on hear-say sources and not on texts themselves. The works of Jewish scholars were often popularised and highly respected; Charlemagne had allowed a strong Jewish intellectual presence in the empire, most notably with the scholar
Kalonymus Kalonymos or Kalonymus ( he, קָלוֹנִימוּס ''Qālōnīmūs'') is a prominent Jewish family who lived in Italy, mostly in Lucca and in Rome, which, after the settlement at Mainz and Speyer of several of its members, took during many gener ...
in Mainz and Isaac, imperial ambassador to
Harun al-Rashid Abu Ja'far Harun ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi ( ar , أبو جعفر هارون ابن محمد المهدي) or Harun ibn al-Mahdi (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Harun al-Rashid ( ar, هَارُون الرَشِيد, translit=Hārūn ...
. The emperor set a precedent for cultural and economic policies towards Jews, and a strong Judaic tradition rooted itself in Carolingian Gaul. This continued in the courts of Louis the Pious, where appreciation for both
Josephus Flavius Josephus (; grc-gre, Ἰώσηπος, ; 37 – 100) was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian and military leader, best known for ''The Jewish War'', who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly d ...
and
Philo of Alexandria Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. Philo's deplo ...
may account for their popularity throughout the Carolingian period; indeed, Josephus was treated almost like another "church father". Louis also allowed discussion of the "relative merits" of Christianity and Judaism to enter into intellectual circles. Amulo reiterates the Jewish origin of both Josephus and Philo in his ''Liber contra Judaeos'', and expresses his anxiety that these works were not to be overvalued by Christians. In the case of Josephus, it is possible that Amulo was reacting to the ''popularity'' of his work rather than its actual ''content''. Among Josephus' works, two were widely read in their Latin forms: his ''Jewish War'' and ''Antiquities''. Not only did his ''Antiquities'' contain an extensive anecdote in praise of Christianity in his ''Testimonium Flavianum'', but the most popular translation of Josephus' history – now called "Hegesippus" for its author
Pseudo-Hegesippus Pseudo-Hegesippus is the conventional name of the anonymous author of ''De excidio Hierosolymitano'' ("On the Destruction of Jerusalem"), a fourth-century Christian Latin adaptation of ''The Jewish War'' of Flavius Josephus. The text itself may als ...
– openly discriminates against the Jewish people. The Jewish-Christian dispute quickly became a political one, with the conversion of the deacon
Bodo Bodo may refer to: Ethnicity * Boro people, an ethno-linguistic group mainly from Northwest Assam, India * Bodo-Kachari people, an umbrella group from Nepal, India and Bangladesh that includes the Bodo people Culture and language * Boro cu ...
, in 838. This was an uncomfortable affirmation of the clergy's worst fears: that the Jewish cultural and theological presence was sufficiently persuasive to earn Jewish converts, even in positions of power. Although Bodo resided in the court at
Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...
, it was the clergy of the western kingdom who schemed to bring about anti-Jewish legislation. Bodo was a Christian noble, active in the Carolingian courts – not only did his conversion set a dangerous precedent, but rumours that he encouraged Muslim persecution of Christians in Spain exacerbated the issue.Bachrach, "Jewish Policy", 114. In 848, there was also a suggestion that Jews assisted the Vikings in Bordeaux; the ''Annals of Saint Bertin'' (see
Annales Bertiniani ''Annales Bertiniani'' (''Annals of Saint Bertin'') are late Carolingian, Frankish annals that were found in the Abbey of Saint Bertin, Saint-Omer, France, after which they are named. Their account is taken to cover the period 830-82, thus contin ...
) also attest that Barcelona was "handed over" to the Muslims in 852, although later sections of the ''Annals'' were written by Hincmar himself.


Jewish merchants and slave trade

The
Second Council of Mâcon The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds eac ...
in 581–582 held that Jews could not own Christian slaves; this was reaffirmed at the Council of Châlons in 743. However, Jewish merchants held considerable wealth and influence in the ninth century. In contrast to both Roman and canon law, Louis permitted Jews both to employ Christians and purchase pagan slaves. Jews were also elected to governmental positions, and could earn ''honores'' or imperial favours. Louis also amended the law obligating the release of any slave converted to either Judaism or Christianity. Slave owners were prohibited from active "proselytism" but their slaves could only convert to either religion with their consent. Under these conditions, it was more likely that slaves would become Jewish converts rather than Christian ones. Agobard was rightly concerned that slaves would be tempted to accept Judaism; this had already occurred in Lyon. After a Jewish-owned pagan girl was converted by her master, Agobard baptized her as a Christian. He faced strong resistance from the Jewish population in Lyon, and was held legally accountable for this act by the ''magister Judaeorum'' in 822. This was a humiliating defeat for Agobard; it confirmed the strong Jewish influence present in the imperial court. Louis even provided the Jews with a ''diploma,'' bearing his imperial seal, to affirm their "victory" against Agobard. In 827, Agobard composed ''On Jewish Superstitions'' with the support of numerous prelates. He explicitly tells Christians to abstain from selling Christian slaves to Jewish merchants. It is clear from Agobard's letters that this practice was sufficiently common to generate anxiety in Lyon, and this carried over into Amulo's work. Charles the Bald permitted many economic advantages for the Jews; as mint-masters, tax collectors, and bank owners, the Jews held significant financial power in the Frankish kingdoms. In the case of
Radhanite The Radhanites or Radanites (; ar, الرذنية, ''ar-Raðaniyya'') were early medieval Jewish merchants, active in the trade between Christendom and the Muslim world during roughly the 8th to 10th centuries. Many trade routes previously esta ...
merchants, flourishing economic activity in southern Gaul also extended into the Mediterranean and parts of the
Emirate of Córdoba The Emirate of Córdoba ( ar, إمارة قرطبة, ) was a medieval Islamic kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. Its founding in the mid-eighth century would mark the beginning of seven hundred years of Muslim rule in what is now Spain and Port ...
. As Islamic forces claimed hegemony over the Mediterranean, Christian trading networks out of Syria had largely disappeared – leaving a strong power gap in the market for Carolingian Jews. It is here that many Jewish merchants spread their faith, and rumours that Gallic Christian slaves were being sold across the borders became a major controversy. There are many stories of Christians slaves being "redeemed" from their owners and there were also rumours of "kidnapping" and forced castration by Jewish slave owners. Charles was aware of this power imbalance: he attempted to reform Louis' policies, most nobly prohibiting Jewish bankers to accept Christian slaves as "collateral" for unpaid debts. Amulo was rightly concerned that the Jewish monopoly over tax-collection and trade put Charles into a tight political position; in his Contra Judeos, Amulo encourages Charles to reconsider a more “anti-Jewish policy."


Relics and icons

In his ''Epistula ad Teodboldum'' to
Theutbald I (bishop of Langres) Theutbald I (or Theobald, french: Thibaut, , la, Theutbaldus; died 16 August 856) was the bishop of Langres from when he was elected to succeed Alberic (died 838) until his death. He is first securely attested as bishop in 842. He may have belonged ...
, Amulo advises the Bishop on how to deal with the bones of an unknown saint that were brought to the Church of St. Bénigne in Dijon. This letter was probably written between 841 and 844, since it refers to Bishop Bartholomew of Narbonne, who died in 845. Not only was Amulo concerned about the “ridiculous manner” in which these two dubious monks delivered the relics, but certain ''miracula'' had started to occur after the bones were buried at St. Bénigne (see
Dijon Cathedral Dijon Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Saint Benignus of Dijon (french: Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon), is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Dijon, Burgundy, France, and dedicated to Saint Benignus of Dijon. The Gothic cathedral ...
). These “miracles” did not cure or heal visitors of the relics: several women within the diocese reported getting “strikings”, though they showed no signs of outward injury. They also experienced fits, resembling those of modern epilepsy. According to Amulo, Bishop
Martin of Tours Martin of Tours ( la, Sanctus Martinus Turonensis; 316/336 – 8 November 397), also known as Martin the Merciful, was the third bishop of Tours. He has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints in France, heralded as the ...
once avoided visiting a popular shrine, since he did not know the name of the martyr buried at the site. Amulo was careful not to denounce the sanctity of the relics while he is concerned about the likelihood of them being unholy; he finally advised Theobald to remove them and bury them elsewhere. Bishop Theobald most likely listened to this advice, since the relics are not mentioned further in surviving sources. Amulo's ''Epistula ad Teodboldum'' was written during a time of civil war, in which the diocese of Dijon was sensitively positioned.
Louis the German Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
and Charles the Bald had engaged in combat within the area, and the subsequent devastation profoundly affected the diocese. Amulo was deeply concerned about the effects that the relics had on families: most of the fits occurred in women and young girls, keeping them from their duties and generating more anxiety within the parish. Amulo was not against relics, but he asserted the importance of venerating saints in “proper” ways, and that such things should be limited to the “legitimate days". He offered a solution to these new relics, insisting that church ceremony – Mass, confessions, burials – would restore the people through “everyday miracles of everyday life".


Major works


Contra Judaeos

By 843, the archbishopric of Lyon was part of
Middle Francia Middle Francia ( la, Francia media) was a short-lived Frankish kingdom which was created in 843 by the Treaty of Verdun after an intermittent civil war between the grandsons of Charlemagne resulted in division of the united empire. Middle Francia ...
under the kingship of Lothair. The ''Epistola seu liber contra Judaeos'' was dedicated to Charles the Bald in
West Francia In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from about ...
, approximately dated c. 843–846. It was written to persuade the king to approve the anti-Jewish policies proposed at the Council of Paris-Meaux.Albert, "Adversus Iudaeos", 140. Many of Amulo's letters were sent through Archbishop Hincmar of Reims. Hincmar had assembled the 843 gathering at which Charles the Bald made a formal pact of peace, or ''foedus concordiae'', with the Church and nobility, known as the
Treaty of Coulaines The Treaty of Coulaines, named after the western French locality of Coulaines near Le Mans, was concluded in late 843 between Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, and his nobility and clergy. Since its validity was limited to West Francia, it ha ...
. Hincmar knew that Amulo was well-versed in Jewish teachings. Hincmar selected Amulo to expose the Jewish threat to the king with his ''Epistula''. He wanted to use the foedus concordiae as leverage between Church and state in implementing anti-Jewish policies. ''Contra Judaeos'' can be divided into three themes: first, Amulo provides a list of Jewish “blasphemies” against the Christian faith.Williams, "Amulo", 359. He refers directly to sections of the Toledot Yeshu and Hebrew bible, and cites scripture to support his argument. Secondly, Amulo provides a critique of Jewish scholars Josephus and Philo. He then goes further, describing the “ill behaviour” of the Judaic people in the Frankish Empire; most of which was directly taken from Agobard's writings. He concludes ''Contra Judaeos'' with a caution to all Christians, and uses historical examples to set a leading precedent for Charles the Bald. In his ''Epistula,'' Amulo carefully lays out his theological argument against Jewish scripture. Christianity was not valued as a legitimate denomination in these texts; it was merely seen as a deviation from the true Jewish faith. Apostles were openly called “
apostates Apostasy (; grc-gre, ἀποστασία , 'a defection or revolt') is the formal disaffiliation from, abandonment of, or renunciation of a religion by a person. It can also be defined within the broader context of embracing an opinion that ...
” and the Gospel was being taught as “the revelation of iniquity” or ''havongalion'' by Jewish priests. The Toledot Yeshu and other Jewish works also contested the legitimacy of Jesus's birth, and these claims are addressed in great detail by Amulo. Primarily, two versions of the Messiah are addressed in the ''Contra Judaeos''. The first attests that Jesus was merely a descendant of King David; he was later enslaved and kept chained to a cave wall outside of Rome. Attended by a Jewish doctor named Joshua ben Levi, the wounded man transforms into an old sage. He carries a sapphire stone, and promises to distribute such stones among the people once he has liberated them.Williams, "Amulo", 360. The second asserts that the Messiah is a man called Ben Ephraim, or son of Joseph, destined to perish in combat against
Gog and Magog Gog and Magog (; he, גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג, ''Gōg ū-Māgōg'') appear in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as individuals, tribes, or lands. In Ezekiel 38, Gog is an individual and Magog is his land; in Genesis 10, Magog is a man and epo ...
. Amulo deconstructs both heresies, citing both from the
Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
and Hebraic texts. Amulo notes that the Toledot re-words lines of the Vulgate bible, specifically
Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 is the fifty-third chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah and is one of the Nevi'im. Chapters 40 through 55 a ...
:5 and Zechariah 12:10, to support their claim. The Carolingians were instrumental in standardizing the Vulgate; this often involved cross-referencing with Hebrew scripture. Florus was active in revising the psalter used at Lyon, and cites "the Septuagint, Jerome, and 'The Books of the Hebrews'" in his revisions. Amulo also cites Jerome in his ''Contra Judaeos'', who interpreted
Ezekiel Ezekiel (; he, יְחֶזְקֵאל ''Yəḥezqēʾl'' ; in the Septuagint written in grc-koi, Ἰεζεκιήλ ) is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ezekiel is acknow ...
4:4–6 to say that the first captivity should have been limited to 430 years; only half of the estimate that Amulo gives. He also cites Scripture to provide evidence against the Jewish re-telling of Christ's crucifixion, specifically referring to the time of day. Amulo's attention to detail makes it clear that the anti-Christian polemic had a strong public presence in Lyon, and was sufficiently influential to warrant his concern. The ''Contra Judaoes'' was an opportunity for Amulo to deconstruct the many Jewish and anti-Christian texts that were in circulation during his time; it is also a testament to the breadth of his scholarship. He routinely cites the Church Fathers, including
Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berbers, Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia (Roman pr ...
,
Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...
, and
Pope Gregory the Great Pope Gregory I ( la, Gregorius I; – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was the bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 to his death. He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregoria ...
. He also uses historical precedents to support his argument, including the laws of
Theodosius I Theodosius I ( grc-gre, Θεοδόσιος ; 11 January 347 – 17 January 395), also called Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. During his reign, he succeeded in a crucial war against the Goths, as well as in two ...
, Valentinus,
Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
, and
Childebert I Childebert I (c. 496 – 13 December 558) was a Frankish King of the Merovingian dynasty, as third of the four sons of Clovis I who shared the kingdom of the Franks upon their father's death in 511. He was one of the sons of Saint Clo ...
. He mentions the conversion of the Jews by King
Sisebut Sisebut ( la, Sisebutus, es, Sisebuto; also ''Sisebuth'', ''Sisebur'', ''Sisebod'' or ''Sigebut'') ( 565 – February 621) was Visigothic Kingdom, King of the Visigoths and ruler of Hispania and Septimania from 612 until his death. Biography H ...
in 612, and notes that Pope Gregory praised King Reccared for his anti-Jewish laws (see The
Third Council of Toledo The Third Council of Toledo (589) marks the entry of Visigothic Spain into the Catholic Church, and is known for codifying the filioque clause into Western Christianity."Filioque." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. ...
). It is clear that Amulo did not intend to convert Jews, but to fully remove them from the empire: citing St. Paul's
Epistle to the Romans The Epistle to the Romans is the sixth book in the New Testament, and the longest of the thirteen Pauline epistles. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by Paul the Apostle to explain that salvation is offered through the gospel of J ...
, he insists that Christians may “mourn” Jews, but should not try to “save them.”


Letters

''Epistula ad Gothescalcum monachum'' or "Letter to Monk Gottschalk" (850–851) ( PL 119:422; MGH ''Epist.'' 5, 1898-9/1978, 368–78)For an English translation, see Genke, 186–199. addressed seven theses of Gottschalk of Orbais. An anonymous postscript entitled "Grace of God" or ''Opusculum Gratiamitque Dei'' has led some scholars to believe the work was written by Florus of Lyon, although both the letter and ''opusculum'' are ascribed to Amulo. The letter mostly focuses on the debate of predestination. According to the letter, Gottschalk's writings were being circulated both among the dioceses and the public; his treatises also attacked bishops who were present at the 849 Council of Quierzy. ''Epistula ad imperatorem de babtizandis Hebraeis'' or "Letter to the Hebrews on Baptism" (816, 822/825) ( PL 119:422; MGH ''Epist.'' 5, 1898/1978, 239)“Amulo Lugdunensis,” in ''Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais,'' 735–987, vol. 1, ed. M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman (Tournout: Brepols, 1994), 144. was addressed either to Louis the Pious or to his son Lothair, and serves as an addendum to a list of canonical laws compiled by Florus of Lyon. Sources make the date of composition or authorship unclear: it has been attributed to both Amulo and Remigius. Attempts at dating the letter suggest it may have been written earlier by Agobard, or yet remains anonymous. ''Epistula ad Teodboldum Lingonensem episcopum'' or "Letter to Theutbald Bishop of Langres" (841–844) ( PL 116:77–84; MGH ''Epist.'' 5 1898-9/1978, 363–8) was written to Theutbald I regarding false relics which were being transferred from Italy to Dijon. Contra Judaeos: ''Epistula contra Iudaeos ad Calorum regem, Liber contra Judaeos ad Carolum regemor'' or "Letter Against Jews to King Charles" (843–846) ( PL 116:141-84; MGH ''Epist.'' 5 1898-9/ 1978, 361 n. 6)“Amulo Lugdunensis,” in ''Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais,'' 735–987, vol. 1, ed. M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman (Tournout: Brepols, 1994), 146. was first published under the name of Rabanus Maurus, in a Paris manuscript which is now archived in the Bibliothèque Nationale in France. It contains sixty chapters, some of which resemble direct copies from Agobard. It would likely have been compiled by Florus, but largely attributes its authorship to Amulo. For a more comprehensive summary of ''Contra Judaeos,'' see the above section.


Opusculum

''Opusculum "Gratiam itaque Dei"'' or "The Grace of God" ( PL 116:97–100; also 116:101–106) dates around the same period as both the ''Epistula ad Gothescalcum'' and ''Sententiae ex libris Augustini''. Found without an attribution, its association with the aforementioned letters implies it was penned either by Amulo or Florus. It emphasises the grace of God and discusses both free will and predestination; it also iterates the promise of salvation for Christians and references the work of St Augustine. ''Opusculum "Omnipotens Deus"'' or "Almighty God" (849) ( PL 116:97–100; also listed under Florus: PL 119:95–102; 125:57–9)“Amulo Lugdunensis,” in ''Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais,'' 735–987, vol. 1, ed. M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman (Tournout: Brepols, 1994), 147. is dated just after Gottschalk of Orbais was condemned at Quierzy. It is written as a response to an unknown man regarding the issue of predestination and free will. It is included in the Patrologia Latina with Amulo's edits, and prefaces a work by Hincmar of Reims entitled ''On Predestination''. Two copies of this text were in circulation – one of which has been attributed to Archbishop Herribald of Auxerre (828–57) and the other to Florus of Lyon.“Amulo Lugdunensis,” in ''Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais,'' 735–987, vol. 1, ed.M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman (Tournout: Brepols, 1994), 146–147. ''Sententiae ex libris Augustini'' or "Arguments from the works of Augustine" ( PL 116:105-40) contains twenty-two chapters commentating on the works of St. Augustine, specifically focusing on predestination and the will of God. It is included in the Patrologia Latina among Amulo's other works, but could also have been written by Florus.


Further reading

*Albert, Bat-Sheva. “Adversus Iudaeos in the Carolingian Empire.” In Contra Iudaeos: Ancient and Medieval Polemics Between Christians and Jews, 119–142. Edited by Ora Limor and Guy Stroumsa. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr, 1996. *“Amulo Lugdunensis.” Clavis des auteurs latins du Moyen Âge, territoire francais, 735–987. Vol. 1. Edited by M. H. Jullien and F. Perelman, 143–147. Tournout: Brepols, 1994. *Bachrach, Bernard S. Early Medieval Jewish Policy in Western Europe. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1977. * *Bobrycki, Shane. "The Flailing Women of Dijon: Crowds in Ninth-Century Europe." Past & Present 240, no. 1 (2018): 3–46. https://doi.org/10.1093/pastj/gty011 *Bonfil, Robert. “Cultural and Religious Traditions in Ninth-Century French Jewry.” Jewish Intellectual History in the Middle Ages. BINAH Vol. 3. Edited by Joseph Dan, 1–17. London: Praeger, 1994. *Genke, Victor and Gumerlock, Francis X., eds. Gottschalk and a Medieval Predestination Controversy: Texts Translated from the Latin. Milwaukee, WI USA: Marquette University Press, 2010. *Leoni, T. "Translations and Adaptations of Josephus's Writings in Antiquity and the Middle Ages''." Ostraka''. 16.2. Napoli: Universita di Perugia, 2007. 481–492. *McCormick, Michael. Origins of the European Economy: Communications and Commerce, A.D. 300–900. 1st ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2001. *Pollard, Richard. “The De Exidio of ‘Hegesippus’ and the Reception of Josephus in the Early Middle Ages.” In VIATOR Medieval and Renaissance Studies 46, no. 2 (2015): 65–100. Los Angeles: University of California. *Schrechenberg, Heinz. ''Rezeptionsgeschichtliche und Textkritische Untersuchungen zu Flavius Josephus.'' Lieden: E. J. Brill, 1997. *West, Charles M.A. “The Letter of Amolo Archbishop of Lyons to Theobald bishop of Langres.” MGH Ep. III (2010): 363–368. http://history.dept.shef.ac.uk/translations/medieval/amolo/#_edn6. *———. “Unauthorised Miracles in Mid-ninth-century Dijon and the Carolingian Church Reforms.” In Journal of Medieval History 36, no. 4 (2010): 295–311. Taylor & Francis Online. Open Access version: https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:11687/. *Williams, AL. Adversus Judaeos: A Bird's Eye View of Christian Apologiae until the Renaissance.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1935.


References

{{Authority control 9th-century archbishops Archbishops of Lyon Bishops in the Carolingian Empire 9th-century Latin writers Writers from the Carolingian Empire Christian anti-Judaism in the Middle Ages