7: The Three Transformations Of Roman Gaul
The Fall of Rome Podcast
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The Rise and Fall of Bishops in the 5th Century
In 5th century Gaul, aristocrats were more concerned with the secular than the religious. A bishop blended civic responsibilities with spiritual leadership as well. You didn't even have to be celibate to be a bishop, and most of the ones we know intimately had wives and children. The political instability caused by the end of the empire in 470s created an environment where it just wasn't possible to keep up continuous correspondence outside their kingdom.
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