Nescire se dicit si fuerit baptizatus Identification et surveillance des convertis (V ^e -VIII ^e siècle)

In the Barbarian kingdoms, the identiication of new converts was at irst based on a limited number of criteria, namely public confessio and non-adherence to the rites of another religion. Baptism and respect for canonical norms (particularly in matrimonial matters) only became important from the 7 ^th century on. As for the supervision of the recently converted, its intensity varied considerably according to the authority involved. Limited when the Church acted alone, it could become intense if the prince and the secular elite supervised the process. The persecution of Jews by King Sisebut in the early 7 ^th century illustrates the potential for social control of new Christians.