pious sect so complete. All the inhabitants of this vast region -Romans, Goths, Vandals, and Moors-either embraced the doctrine of the Koran, or perished by the sword. Of the African Church, once so flourishing, no trace remains; not even the ruins to tell the story of its destruction.

The treachery of Count Julian caused similar disasters in the Spanish peninsula. This nobleman, to revenge an injury done his family by king Roderic, invited the Saracens into Spain, and surrendered to them an important fort commanding the straits of Gibraltar. The Goths rallied in haste to meet the invader. A decisive battle was fought at Xeres, on the banks of the Gaudalquivir. Roderic was slain, and the Saracens won a complete victory. In less than two years almost the entire peninsula was made subject to the invader. Those Christians who remained faithful, rallied in the mountainous district of Asturias, under the command of Pelagius, a prince of the royal family. Their numbers gradually increased; they won from time to time an increase of territory, and thus commenced the struggle with the Mahometans which continued during seven centuries. It was brought to a triumphant conclusion by the arms of Ferdinand and Isabella, who conquered Granada A. D. 1492.

In 732 a countless host of Saracens invaded France, carrying everywhere bloodshed and desolation. The valor of Charles Martel was made the instrument of the deliverance, not only of France, but of all Christendom. In a battle fought at Poitiers, the army of Abderahman was defeated with such slaughter that it is said three hundred thousand of the Saracens remained dead upon the field.

PEPIN AND THE HOLY SEE.

The Romans had for a long time acted independently of the emperors of Constantinople, who had no longer the power to

Relate the conquest of Spain. By whom were the Mahometana finally conquered? Relate the victory of Charles Martel,

PEPIN AND THE HOLY SEE

947

protect them, or to assert their authority. The reverence felt for the sovereign Pontiffs caused them to be regarded as the protectors of the temporal as well as spiritual interests of the people, and they already held in Rome a real though informal Sovereignty.

In the reign of Pope Stephen, the duchy of Rome and the surrounding country were devastated by Astolphus, king of the Lombards. These barbarians committed everywhere the most dreadful cruelties; and the danger of Rome itself was so great that the Pope appealed to Constantinople for succor. The emperor paid no attention to this prayer, and Stephen resolved go in person to seek aid from Pepin, the son of Charles Martel, who was then king of France.

to

Finding negotiations of no avail, Pepin crossed the Alps, and entered Italy with an army. The Lombards were defeated, and Astolphus was forced to restore the conquered territory, and make reparation as far as lay in his power. Scarcely had Pepin returned to France, when the treacherous Lombard laid siege to Rome. Pepin entered Italy a second time, and wrested from Astolphus, Ravenna with its dependencies; Bologna, Ferrara, and a considerable territory stretching along the Adriatic. Considering the interest of the inhabitants, rather than his own ambition, Pepin bestowed the whole, by a solemn grant, upon Pope Stephen III., to be governed by him and his successors in St. Peter's Chair, forever. By this act of the French king, the Popes became temporal princes, exercising sovereign power over a considerable territory.

Charlemagne, the son of Pepin, confirmed later the grant made by his father, adding new territory which he had conquered from the Lombards.

During this century the Gospel was preached in Germany, Friesland, Holland, and Zealand. The most illustrious

Relate the circumstances under which the Popes became temporal sovereigns. In what countries was the Gospel preached ?......

apostles were St. Willibrord and St. Boniface. The latter received the crown of martyrdom ▲. D. 754.

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THE ICONOCLASTS.

(IMAGE BREAKERS.)

Leo the Isaurian was a man of low birth, who had imbibed, it is said, from the Jews, a strong dislike to the use of holy images and pictures.

On becoming emperor, he commanded that all representations, whether of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, or the Saints, should be taken from the churches and destroyed.

St. Germanus, patriarch of Constantinople, remonstrated, appealing to the constant practice of the Church, and setting forth the benefits arising from the use of these pious objects. Leo was, however, too ignorant to appreciate any explanation. Over the entrance of the palace stood a large crucifix, placed there in the reign of Constantine. By the order of Leo, an executioner was sent to remove the holy image. An excited crowd assembled, but it would seem that the men were too much intimidated to offer any open resistance. The executioner mounted a long ladder, and, with an axe, struck the figure of our Lord in the face. A number of women, standing near, pulled away the foot of the ladder, and the man was killed in the fall. Troops were immediately sent to the spot; the sacred image was hewn in pieces, and the women who had interfered were massacred without pity.

Such was the beginning of a general persecution. All who refused to obey the emperor, perished in cruel torments. The walls of the churches were daubed with whitewash to conceal the paintings with which they were adorned. Not content with this, the emperor caused the bones of the saints and martyrs to be taken from the sepulchres, and thrown into the ditches and sewers. These sacrileges extended so far, that when the

What was the conduct of Leo the Isaurian regarding holy pictures and images? Relate the persecution.

THE EASTERN SCHISM.

249

empress Irene, a pious and orthodox princess, assumed the government, it was considered necessary to adopt the most vigorous measures.

The Seventh General Council, second of Nice, met A. D. 787. The assembled prelates defined clearly the Catholic doctrine with regard to the relative honor due to relics, pictures and images. The sovereign pontiff confirmed the decrees, and the Iconoclasts ceased to disturb the peace of the church.

THIS

NINTH CENTURY.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE EASTERN SCHISM.

HIS great schism, which has cut off the Eastern churches from the centre of unity, commenced with the usurpation of Photius. This proud and ambitious man usurped the See of Constantinople from the patriarch St. Ignatius. When he found it impossible to obtain the support of the Pope, he threw off his allegiance to the Holy See.

The Eighth General Council, fourth of Constantinople, was called A. D. 869, to condemn these schismatical proceedings. The prelates acknowledged the supremacy of the Roman See, and declared their allegiance to the bishop of Rome as the successor of St. Peter. Photius was deposed, and the emperor added a decree of banishment. These proceedings restored peace for a while. Photius returned from exile some years later, but his wicked career received its final check from the emperor Leo. He died in exile and obscurity, but the evil which he had done remained to bear bitter fruit.

What was done in the Seventh General Council? Relate the commencement of the Eastern schism. What was done by the Highth General Council?

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ENGLAND.

This century was marked in England by great calamities. The Danish invaders had laid waste the country, and destroyed the churches and monasteries, slaughtering entire communities. The libraries, collected by the monks with such long and patient toil, were everywhere destroyed. Study was at an end, and ignorant men, who could scarcely understand the Latin service of the church, were, for want of better, admitted to the priesthood. They were neither willing nor competent to teach the people, who gradually forgot their Christian duties, and, in too many instances, adopted the superstitions of the heathen Danes. When the victories of Alfred the Great restored peace to England, he gave his first attention to these evils. He supported the bishops in their efforts to reform the clergy, established schools everywhere, and founded the celebrated University of Oxford. He invited thither professors from other countries, particularly from Ireland, where learning and religion were then flourishing with equal lustre. Alfred saw before his death, A. D. 901, the commencement of a better era.

TENTH CENTURY.

'HE state of Italy during this century was wretched in

THE

the extreme. The half-converted barbarians who occupied the country were engaged in continual wars. The Marquises of Tuscany, and the Counts of Tusculum, with other lawless leaders, desolated the states of the Church, and interfered with the papal elections. Some Popes died in prison, others were

What was the state of England? What was effected by Alfred! What was the state of Italy?