From Christian Historiography to the Emergence of National Histories: Spanish Historiography between Romans and Visigoths

Between the fifth and seventh centuries, the historiographical genre of Christian inspiration and Roman orientation gradually gave way to the national histories of the Roman-Germanic peoples settled in the pars occidentis of the empire. Because of their structure, national histories have many things in common with the ancient historiographical works but differ in their ideological foundation and interpretation of the episodes narrated. Christian authors combine ecclesiastical and political events, interpreting them according to a providential conception of history. This phenomenon can also be observed in Spanish historiography. The writings of Hydatius of Lemica, John of Biclaro, Isidore of Seville, and Julian of Toledo provide us with valuable insights into the various reactions to the invasions of Germanic peoples in the Iberian Peninsula and other events otherwise unknown.