Hermenegild
and his brother Reccared were the sons of Leovigild, a Visigothic King
of Spain and his first wife, Theodosia. Leovigild shared his kingdom
with his two sons, placing Hermenegild upon the throne of Seville. Both
had been raised as Arians, a heretical sect that denied the divinity of
Christ.
Hermenegild, the elder, was married to Inguthis, a
daughter of the Frankish King Sigibert I. Whereas he was Arian, she was a
zealous Catholic, and her patient fortitude in the persecutions and
torments inflicted on her by Leovigild’s second wife, Gosvint, as well
as the instructions and exhortations of the Bishop of Seville, St.
Leander, eventually lead to Hermenegild’s conversion.
Despite his
father’s rage at his decision and the pressure from his family,
Hermenegild held firm in his newfound Catholic faith. As the sovereign
King of Seville, Hermenegild defended himself and his subjects against
Leovigild’s attacks. However, being much too weak to withstand the
sieges of such a strong power, and having been unable to secure any
assistance from Constantinople and, subsequently, suffering a bitter
betrayal at the hand of the Roman generals, Hermenegild fled, seeking
refuge in a much venerated church in Osseto. King Leovigild refused to
violate this sanctuary and, instead, sent Hermenegild’s brother Reccared
in to promise him pardon should he submit and come out. Hermenegild
complied and came out to the convincing pretense of sincerity and joy
from his father. However, once back in Leovigild’s camp, the king
ordered him stripped of his royal robes, bound, and imprisoned in the
tower of Seville, where the young prince had reigned for two short
years.
His father's cruelty failed to move the young king from
his resolve. Hermenegild was unwavering in his faith and even imposed
additional austerities and penances upon himself during his imprisonment
in spite of his already intense suffering. The last straw came
for Leovigild when his son refused Communion from the hand of an Arian
bishop who came to visit him during the solemnity of Easter. He was
subsequently beheaded on this day in the year 586.
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