Fulgentius of Ruspe: the apostle of the Vandals

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After the 5th-Century Vandal conquest, North Africa, previously one of the most strongly Christian areas in the Roman world, faced a serious religious crisis: its bishops were banished and its population forced to adopt the Arian doctrine held by the Vandals. In this context, bishop Fulgentius of Ruspe, sometimes called the “second Augustine”, became known as the champion of North African Christianity. For over 20 years, he faithfully preached the Catholic doctrine, stood up to the Vandal authorities, and held public debates with Arian bishops. He was exiled several times, but continued to defend his convictions through his writings. Without his influence, the North African Church probably would not have survived the Vandal occupation.

Context

The Vandals followed the Arian religion, a doctrine considered heretical by the official Christian Church. North African Christians were distraught by this new doctrine which they had never been confronted with yet: while Augustine of Hippo had written a book against Arianism, only few were still fluent enough in Latin to read it. Also, the Vandals wanted to force all their subjects to accept their doctrine, and they persecuted the indigenous North African Christians, both Catholics and Donatists. Over a thousand North Africans were killed for refusing to convert to Arianism.

Life of Fulgentius

Fabius Claudius Gordianus Fulgentius was born around 465, in Thelepte (Medinet-el-Kedima, close to Feriana, in the Tunisian governorate of Kasserine), in a Roman Christian family. His grandfather, a Carthaginian Senator, was banished to Italy after the Vandal conquest of Africa, and all his property was confiscated. His two sons returned to Africa after he died: the family house was lost, but they could recover some land in Byzacene (Southern Tunisia) and settled there. Fulgentius’ father died when he was a child, and he was raised by his mother, who taught him Greek and Latin. At a very young age, Fulgentius memorized all of Homer’s works.

Fulgentius’ family was highly respected. As an adult, his excellent reputation enabled Fulgentius to obtain a job as a tax collector. As a brilliant career was opening up in front of him, his study of religious texts, especially a sermon by Augustine of Hippo on the Psalm 36, convinced him to renounce his worldly life and devote himself to God. Around 22 years of age, he decided to become a monk.

About this time, Faustus, a bishop who had been expelled from his diocese by the Vandal King Huneric, established a monastery in Byzacene. Fulgentius asked Faustus to take him as a novice. Faustus first tried to dissuade him, due to his fragile health, but the young man was so insistent that he finally agreed. With the other monks, Fulgentius lived a life of prayer, away from society.

A short time later, Arian attacks forced Fulgentius to leave for another monastery, where he took responsibilities. In 499, he fled to Sicca (El Kef) during another wave of persecution. The following year, he traveled to Rome. He then returned to Byzacene, where he founded his own monastery. His reputation was spreading more and more in the whole region.

In 504, Fulgentius became the new bishop of Ruspe (Henchir Sbia, close to Mahdia). At this time, the Vandal King Thrasamund had forbidden any new bishops from being appointed after the death of a standing bishop. Fulgentius was exiled to Sardinia with around 60 other bishops. In exile, he wrote books to instruct the African Christians in their faith, especially by refuting the errors of Arianism.

Fulgentius returned to Africa in 515, at the invitation of King Thrasamund, for a public debate with an Arian bishop. Thrasamund was so impressed by his knownedge that he allowed him to stay in Carthage, but not to return to Byzacene. Fulgentius continued writing and preaching the Catholic doctrine. He was exiled again in 520.

Thrasamund died in 523. His successor Hilderic, whose mother was Catholic, led a policy of religious tolerance. Fulgentius was allowed to return from exile and take back his function as bishop of Ruspe. After his return, he worked to end abuses that had developed in the Church while he was away. He was such an eloquent and efficient preacher that the bishop Bonifatius of Carthage cried every time he heard him preach, and thanked God publicly for giving such a preacher to his Church.

Close to the end of his life, Fulgentius, who was still more drawn to the solitary monastic life than to the responsibilities of a bishop, retired to a monastery on the Circinia Islands (Kerkennah). However, his influence in Ruspe was so strong that the faithful called him back. He continued serving as bishop of Ruspe until his death in 527.