In OTL, the Saxons which would settle in the British Isles would go on to adopt Christianity fairly quickly and leave behind the majority of their pagan traditions. On the continent, those that continued to live in the territories of what is now north-western Germany however did not Christianize to any considerable extent until Charlemagne essentially forced them to do so. The continentals also kept to a more egalitarian, more democratic/oligarchic/aristocratic way of government, while in Britain kingship solidified. What if these circumstances were reversed, with the British and Continental Saxons reversed in terms of their development?
WI: Continental Saxons convert, Insular Saxons remain pagan
- Thread starter Rousseau
- Start date
I would dispute fairly quickly. While most of continental Germanic peoples, once entering Romania (or even before) adopted a form of Christianism (Arianism for most, Catholicism for some), Anglo-Saxons simply kept it as much they could, up to two centuries after continental Germans did, after several waves of christianisation and re-christianisation.
Egalitarian Germanic society is the cliché of Early Middle Ages. Their societies were differently organised, but we're far from an equal society (as in every one have the same weight). In fact, the elective practice of germanic kingship as we know it is probably more tied up to the military role of the leader of peoples once entering in Romania than to strictly speaking germanic kingship based on link with the divine (most usually tied up to one, two or three families).
Hence, Windukin being chosen for all matters concerining warfare. It's not that much different from the original roman dictatorial institution.
And the Romano-Germanic societies as well weren't behemoth of pyramidal organisation. The political importance, even in the most romanized places, of the freemen as kingship support is quite important (while sometimes identified with nobility).
That said, trying to fill the OP.
Insular AS converted eventually thanks to three features.
- Britain elites being Christians
- Existance of strong kingship
- Frankish influence.
The first is pretty much unavoidable with a GI PoD, but could be turned over. The process of Christianisation really began with the establishment of a clear germanic hegemony in Britain, making identitary purposes less problematic.
The second can be more easily turned over, with some PoD. IOTL you had several little kingdoms, but that mauintained vassalage ties with each other. If you manage to end with more kingdoms, and less powerful AS kings, it should be enough to delay conversion to have continental Saxons convert before insular.
One of the main appeal of Christianism (besides having sort of "official recognition" from continental powers, was it institutionalised the power of a king put as God or Christ's lieutenant, and therefore at his image, before his subjects).
With a weak enough kingship, you may end with only some insular AS converting, maybe not continuously as IOTL.
Frankish influence may be simply butterflied with a Gothic victory, ending with a maintained Visigothic hegemon in Gaul (direct in Aquitaine and Provence, undirect as clientelising Burgondians, Gallo-Romans and Franks) that would probably turn Catholic far earlier than IOTL and still being a problem.
You would note that it's only for Britain matter, Saxony posing others.
Indeed, you had no roman and christianised population in Saxony, meaning no network able to support Christianisation (whatever simply settling in Gaul (they did IOTL, but in much limited matters, would it be only because of the demographical difference).
Having Saxons replacing Franks at least in Belgica would be enough to have a conversion impetus (would it be only because of the Visigothic influence or Gallo-Roman presence), leading to a more direct conversion of Saxony population (Turning Saxony in sort of TL equivalent of Merovingian Bavaria).