The British Isles was very successful in bringing Christianity to the Roman territories that were previously occupied by pagan tribes. Bishop Germanus of Auxerre visited Britain for two reasons. First he visited Britain for the purpose of countering the spread of Pelegianism, however while there he was called upon to lead the British force against a joint invasion by the Saxon and Pictish. During his second visit it was evident that Christianity have been driven further and further West because Britain's adversaries have begin to occupy its eastern and southern coasts. Patrick was considered the apostle of Ireland. He was ordained as a bishop in Ireland and was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the islands. Clovis was converted to Catholic Christianity in 496 and under his leadership the Franks conquered the former Roman territories in God and in Germany. This created what was called the regnum Francorum which means the "kingdom of the Franks". The Frankish or Merovingian dynasty had dominated the Roman territory in Gaul and Germany by the middle of the 6th century. The church played a very important role in the affairs of the Frankish kingdom. The kings viewed God has the source of their protection and the source of order and justice in their time. During this time the Christian bishop was not only viewed as a holy man but he also had political influence. Pepin and Charles were faithful Christians who endowed churches in monasteries. St. Willibrord was an Evangelist and an English monk who was educated Ripon and in Ireland. Boniface was a monk who came to Frisia in 716. In 718, he ended up in Rome and while there he was commissioned as a missionary to Germany by Pope Gregory II. He was so successful as a missionary in Thuringia and Hesse, the Apostle Peter ordained him to be Bishop for Germany. Boniface's leadership resulted in celibacy amongst priest and a lack of worldliness among the clergy. The Emperor Leo III provoked riots in the capital of Rome because he destroyed an image of Christ which stood above one of the entrances to the Imperial Palace at Constantinople. This very bold act created hostility among the populace and mostly among the monks. However, Leo III was not moved by this and stood firmly on his policy of opposing images of public icons. John of Damascus spoke out against Leo III's position. He made a distinction between generations offered to images and worship offered to God. He maintained that an image was not equivalent to that which it portrayed but it was only in the likeness of what it portrayed which caused one to think of the original. Gregory II also opposed iconoclastic policies and therefore excommunicated anyone who profaned a sacred image. Charles the Great was a great warrior in the Frankish tradition. He gained control and rule over France, Belgium, Holland, Austria, large sections of Germany, Italy, and a corner of northeastern Spain as a result of his success in the mini annual military campaigns he was involved in. He regarded himself as the anointed king of Christian people and guardian of the church. Although he enjoyed learning very much he was not a good writer. He surrounded himself with very educated people. Louis "the pious" succeeded Charles the Great after his death in 814. In the ninth century the chief religious problems was created by the so-called Paulicians who got their name because of their special reverence for the Apostle Paul. They rejected the Old Testament and the night the physical reality of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.