The title held by Gregory of Tours, a bishop is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy. In early medieval Europe, bishops were highly important and educated people with a range of not only ecclesiastical but also administrative responsibilities. Gregory depicts bishops in the History as sometimes exercising considerable political influence, reflecting The Intersection Between Christianity and Politics.

The Franks were a Germanic people who migrated into, and conquered, most of Gaul. The Franks were united under the rule of the Merovingian dynasty. In English, “Franks” is the origin of the country’s name, “France.”

The Goths or Visigoths were a Germanic people who, in 415, established a kingdom in modern-day Spain. By 585, they had taken the territory of modern-day Portugal as well. Their kings practiced Arian Christianity (See: Background) until the conversion of King Recared to Catholic Christianity in 587.