Martianus, Aventius and Isidore: provincial councils in seventh-century Spain

In Spain around 624, Bishop Martianus was deposed by a church council led by Bishop Isidore of Seville. The fact that Martianus had been framed came to light at another council in 633, which then issued canons meant to prevent future abuses, and to institutionalize provincial councils as centrally-controlled tribunals for local dispute settlements. These events illuminate the problems involved in the Visigothic church's programme for kingdom-wide religious uniformity.