3-098-925 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Third Council of Toledo, 1862. The Third Council of Toledo, held in 589, officially established Catholicism as the dominant religion in Spain, replacing Arianism. Reccared (or Recaredo) I (died 601) was Visigothic King of Spain (586-601). "Wishing to solemnize the change of religion that had taken place in his State, Recaredo convened a national council in Toledo, the third to be held in that city. The king appeared before the venerable assembly, and briefly recounting his conversion, exhorted them to follow his example, offering them a document signed by himself and Queen Bada, in which he expressed his preference for the Catholic faith and his abjuration of the Arian heresy. He was received by the Fathers with great applause, and some nobles subscribed to the dogma." Baddo (active 589) was queen consort by marriage to Recaredo. She is the only Visigoth queen consort known to have signed official state documents and church documents, which signifies that she played a role in politics and had some influence over the government.