Political-territorial disputes between the Nicene and Priscilianist episcopates in Hispania from 370 to 447 AD.

• Grant number: 25/08697-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Ancient and Medieval History
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Lúcia Dorini de Oliveira Carvalho Rossi
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Picoli Sotocorno
• Supervisor: Jose Vilella Masana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais (FCHS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Franca. Franca , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/16929-0 - Political-territorial disputes between the Nicene and Priscillian episcopates in Hispania from 370 to 447 CE., BP.DR

Abstract

The 4th and 5th centuries of the Common Era can be understood in light of their political and cultural diversities. Within the scope of Christian religion, this period was marked by theological controversies and schisms involving the various dissident branches of Christian beliefs. In this context, we include the disputes between the Nicene episcopate and the Priscilianist episcopate. This research aims to analyze the territorial dispute present in the Nicene-Priscilianist conflict through various textual documents: epistles, chronicles, consultatio, legislative material, and selected theological treatises. Our hypothesis is that the followers of Bishop Priscillian of Ávila posed a threat to the territorial control and political and religious authority of the Nicene ecclesia in Hispania. We believe that the Priscilianists could compete for places of worship, resources, and influence, in addition to making speeches against Nicene discipline.