The Story of Wamba: Julian of Toledo's
Simon Barton
The Historia Wambae Regis, composed by Julian of Toledo (d. 690), is among the most important and striking narrative accounts to have survived from Visigothic kingdom in Spain. work narrates detail campaign that was waged 672–3 recently elected king Visigoths, Wamba, suppress a rebellion against his authority north-eastern provinces Narbonensis Tarraconensis. made up sequence four prose texts. first Epistola, letter purportedly addressed leader rebels, Paul, which he challenges latter cross Pyrenees do battle with him. second an extended account Wamba's victorious crush revolt, public trial defeated return triumph Toledo. There then follows Insultatio, Gaul, where main seat lay. Finally, there Iudicium, shorter expedition detailed trial, may been revised version text originally member king's military entourage. It somewhat surprising, given paucity texts kingdom, has received only relatively limited scholarly attention hitherto, for this reason Joaquín Martínez Pizarro's translation authoritative study are be warmly welcomed. Pizarro prefaces two substantial wide-ranging essays. In first, explores historical context written, paying particular ideology kingship articulated secular ecclesiastical élite during seventh century tensions bedevilled political relations between monarchy aristocracy reigns Wamba predecessors on throne, Chindasvind Reccesvind. He goes trace career relationship King illuminating detail. essay, strikingly original insightful two, subjects make close literary analysis. pays careful sources models upon drew ideological messages they conveyed, suggests convincingly drawn inspiration classical Late Antique Latin tradition panegyric exemplified Sallust, Claudian, Sidonius others. also speculates composing such stylistically adventurous learned at very beginning reign well means sought personal advancement royal court proper model clarity precision, supplemented copious notes, map, five plates extensive bibliography. sum, excellent volume constitutes contribution our understanding seventh-century intellectual history will welcomed scholars students alike.
The English Historical Review