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Meens, Rob, “With one foot in the font: the failed baptism of the Frisian king Radbod and the 8th-century discussion about the fate of unbaptized forefathers”, in: Pádraic Moran, and Immo Warntjes (eds), Early medieval Ireland and Europe: chronology, contacts, scholarship. A Festschrift for Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, 14, Turnhout: Brepols, 2015. 577–596.

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Article
“With one foot in the font: the failed baptism of the Frisian king Radbod and the 8th-century discussion about the fate of unbaptized forefathers”
Work
Pages
577–596
Year
2015
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Abstract (cited)
This contribution tries to outline a context for the well-known story of the Frisian King Radbod withdrawing from the baptismal font when hearing that his ancestors would not receive the same privilege. This story is transmitted in the Vita Wulframni, a text that has been regarded as a forgery. Following a summary of Stephane Lebecq’s analysis of the Vita, the story about Radbod’s failed baptism can be shown to belong to a part of this text that was composed by the Frisian monk Ovo in the AD 740s. As such, it is a central document in the debate about the fate of pagan ancestors vibrant at precisely this time, with Boniface and the Irish bishop Clemens being the best-known protagonists. The anecdote was not written to deny Willibrord his pride of place in the Christianization of Frisia, but rather to corroborate Boniface’s point of view with Willibrord’s authority. There is some indication suggesting that Willibrord himself had a different opinion in this question, a crucial element in the process of Christianization.
Subjects and topics
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Texts
History, society and culture
Agents
BonifaceBoniface
(d. 754)
English monk and missionary.
See more Clemens [fl. 8th century]Clemens ... fl. 8th century
(fl. c.745)
Irish peregrinus and cleric accused of heresy
See more RadbodRadbod
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Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
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October 2016, last updated: November 2018
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