Why Did the Mission to the Anglo-Saxons Stall in 596: Anxiety, Politics or Money?

2025/04/14 by MARK LAYNESMITH · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Medieval Literature and History

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0022046924001532

openalex publication_date 2025/04/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02

Abstract

This paper explores the crisis of 596 which interrupted Augustine of Canterbury's mission to the Anglo-Saxons, necessitating his return to Rome. Bede's interpretation of this as a moment of psychological failure is discounted. Political changes in Merovingian Gaul associated with the death of Childebert are reconsidered. A new economic explanation is advanced based on the wording of Gregory the Great's letter of encouragement to Augustine and his fellow missionaries, consideration of the management of the papal estates in Gaul and the behaviour of Virgilius, metropolitan of Arles.

Discussions

• Excited to share open access my new article on the Gregorian mission to Kent and why it stalled (Augustine heads back to Rome a month after setting out). TLDR version: Bede was wrong about nerves; the [bsky, 5 points, 0 comments]

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