TheMargaret Wade Labarge Prize for Medieval Studies Including such remarkable accounts as Attila the Hun's meeting with the Pope, Queen Balthild's life, and Gregory of Tour's vivid descriptions of what happens when daily life is enmeshed with politics, From Roman to Merovingian Gaul documents events that are both remarkable in themselves and that demonstrate what made this era of history distinct.
Comments:
"This admirable collection of primary sources is so copious that it will prove instructive to senior professors as well as beginning undergraduates.
The amazingly wide choice of readings, introduced by brief, astute, unpretentious comments, lays out before us the astonishing spectrum of writings documenting what is still often, but wrongly, called the 'Dark Ages'.
The collection is unusually homogeneous: the editor who selected the contents also translated almost all of them from the original latin, The translations read well and are rendered exceptionally accurate by Professor Murray's deep learning in late Roman and Frankish institutions,
Nowhere in the western part of the Roman Empire was continuity from classical antiquity to the Middle Ages so sustained and observable as in Gaul.
The connection between the Roman and Merovingian periods was not seamless, but close to being so, The sources gathered and presented by Alexander C, Murray provide an engrossing, inspiring, and readable record of a decisive historical period, " Walter Goffart, University of Toronto
Alexander Callander Murray is a member of the Department of History and Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto, where he teaches at the Erindale Campus.
He is author of GermanicKinship Structure: Studies in Law and Society in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, editor of After Rome's Fall: Narrators and Sources of Early Medieval History, and has written articles on Merovingian administration and officeholding, and on the dating of Beowulf.
I read only the Gregory of Tours selections, Yet another reminder that the past is indeed a foreign country, Read fredegar chronicle: clovis bridel quest, The first bridal quest taleAn extensive collection of historical source material from the Merovingian period, Murray begins by giving translations of the first references to the Franks in RomanLatin chronicles and histories, He then gives translations from Frankish sources such as Gregory of Tours, Fredegar's Chronicle, Sallic law codes and much more, An invaluable tool for historians wishing to read the original source materials, There's also a few added bonuses for those interested in the evolution of medieval German literature, because the book contains translations of Fredegar's versions of Clovis' bridal quest, his life of Theodoric the Great and Brunhild.
Contents
s
List of Illustrations and Maps
Abbreviations
Preface
Chapter One: The Early Franks
A.
The Earliest Sources
, Aurelius Victor, From the Emperors De Caesaribus
, From the Latin Panegyrics Panegyrici Latini
B, Raiders, Invaders, and Roman Soldiers, a,
I. Silvanus the Usurper
, The History of Ammianus Marcellinus, XV
II, Julian in Gaul: Salians and Chamavi, a,
. The Emperor Julian, From his Letter to the Athenians
, The History of Ammianus Marcellinus, XVII,
, Libanios of Antioch, From his Funeral Oration over Julian
, Eunapius of Sardis, Fragment
III. Julian Proclaimed Augustus, a.
. The History of Ammianus Marcellinus, XX
Chapter Two: Orosius on Empire, Barbarians, and Usurpers in the Late Fourth and Fifth Centuries
.
From the Histories against the Pagans
Chapter Three: Three Gallic Courtiers and Poets: Thoughts on Life, Love, and Patriotism
A, Ausonius of Bordeaux
. A Ranking of Famous Cities, ca
, Bissula
. From the Epigrams
. From the Nuptial Cento: The Deflowering of the Bride
B, Rutilius Claudius Namatianus
, From His Voyage Home
a, In Praise of Rome
b, Trouble in Armorica
c, Judaism
d. Monasticism
e. Stilicho
C. Paulinus of Pella
, From the Thanksgiving Eucharisticus
Chapter Four: The Antique Chronicle Tradition in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries
, Prosper of Aquitaine
. The Gallic Chronicle of
, From the Chronicle of Hydatius
, The Gallic Chronicle of
, The Chronicle of Marius of Avenches
Chapter Five: Salvian of Marseilles on God's Judgment
, On the Governance of God
Chapter Six: Priscus of Panium on Attila the Hun
, An Embassy to the Court of Attila, a,
. Attila and the West, a,
i. Attila and Honoria
ii, Vandals and Huns
iii, Attila and the Franks
iv, Attila's Terms
v. Attila Meets the Pope
, Attila's Death, a.
Chapter Seven: Fragments and Scraps of FifthCentury History
, The Franks and Imperial Politics, a,
i. Sulpicius Alexander
ii. Claudian on the Consulship of Stilicho, a,
iii. Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus
. An Anonymous Sketch of the Reign of Honorius
, Olympiodorus on Galla Placidia and the Goths
, From the Thanksgiving of Paulinus of Pella: The Sack of Bordeaux and the Siege of Bazas, a,/
. The Establishment of the Gallic Council of the Seven Provinces, a,
. From the Comedy Querolus: Laws of the Forest Along the Loire
, Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus on Aetius
, From the Imperial Decrees of the Theodosian Code and its Interpretatio
a, Ranking Roman Society
b, Praescriptio Fori
. From the Life of St, Germanus by Constantius of Lyons: Taxes, Alans, and Bacaudae in Farther Gaul
, From Sidonius Apollinariss Panegyrics on Avitus and Majorian
a, The Election of Avitus as Emperor b, Majorian and the Fight at Vicus Helena
, From Lost Annals of Angers: Aegidius, Childeric, and Odoacer
, Sales in the Code of Euric, ca,
Chapter Eight: The World of Sidonius Apollinaris: From Roman to Visigothic Gaul
, From the Letters of Sidonius Apollinaris
i, Early Years, Before
ii, Sidonius Goes to Rome, a,
iii. From Prefect and Patrician to Bishop
iv, Sidonius the Bishop
v, Blockade of Clermont, a.
vi. Cession of Clermont and the Auvergne
vii, Sidonius, a Subject of Euric
viii, Last Thoughts on Latin Culture, History, and Nobility
Chapter Nine: Clovis, King of the Franks, a,/
. Letter of Bishop Remigius of Rheims to Clovis, a,/
. Letter of Bishop Avitus of Vienne to Clovis Regarding the King's Baptism, ca,
. Letter of Bishop Remigius to Clovis on the Death of the Kings Sister
, Three Letters of Theoderic the Great from the Variae of Cassiodorus, a,/
. Letter of Clovis to Aquitanian Bishops on the Kings Peace and Apostolic Letters, a,/
. Letter of the Bishops of the Council of Orleans to Clovis, a,
. Letter of Bishop Remigius Regarding the Ordination of a Certain Claudius, ca,
. Letter of Nicetius, Bishop of Trier, to Chlodoswintha, Queen of the Lombards, ca,
. The Career of Clovis According to Gregory Bishop of Tours
Chapter Ten: The Histories of Gregory of Tours: The Frankish Kingdom, a,
. From the Death of Clovis to the Death of Chlothar I, a,Books IIIIV
. From the Division of Chlothars Kingdom to the Death of Sigibert I, a,Book IV
. The Reign of Childebert II, a,Books VX
i, To the Death of Chilperic, a,October Books VVI
ii, The Aftermath of Chilperics Death and the Revolt of Gundovald, a,OctoberBooks VIIVIII
iii, Revolt in Austrasia and the Fall of Egidius, a,Books IXX
Chapter Eleven: The World of Gregory of Tours
A, Antique Poetry and the Merovingian Court
, Venantius Fortunatus Before the Synod of Berny, a,: On the Virtues of Chilperic
B, Episcopal Appointments in Gregory of Tours' Histories
, The Rivalry of Cato and Cautinus in Clermont
, Cato and Tours
. Doing it the Wrong Way: A Bishop for Saintes
, Doing it the Right Way: Avitus, Bishop of Clermont
C, Feuds in Gregory of Tours' Histories
, Feud in the Family: Silvester's Son and Gregory's Brother Peter, a,
. The Feuds of Sichar, a,and
. Fredegund Buries the Hatchet, a,
Chapter Twelve: Fredegar on Frankish History, a,
. The Sixth Chronicle of Fredegar Book IV
Chapter Thirteen: Kings and Mayors: The Anonymous History of the Franks LHF and the Frankish Kingdom,
.
Chaptersof the
History of the Franks LHF
Chapter Fourteen: Sanctity and Politics in the Times of Balthild and Her Sons
A.
Queenship, Religion, and Politics
, The Life of Lady Balthild, Queen
B, A View From Abroad
, Balthild, Ebroin, and Dagobert II in Stephen's Life of Wilfrid
C, The Politics of Martyrdom in SeventhCentury Saints' Lives
, The Passion of Leudegar
, From the Passion of Praejectus
Chapter Fifteen: Frankish Law
A, The Salic Law Lex Salica
, Wergelds and Compensation
. Ordinary Procedure
. Special Procedure I: Tracking and ThirdHand Procedure
, Special Procedure II: Charging and Interrogating Slaves
, Miscellaneous OVenses
. Inheritance
B. Legislation of the Merovingian Kings
, The Agreement of Childebert I and Chlothar I for Keeping the Peace, a,
. The Decree of Childebert II, a,
. Constitution of Chlothar II,
, The Edict of Paris of Chlothar II, October
C, Ecclesiastical Legislation
. Clerical Privilege and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Canons of Church Councils
a, Orleans I, a.
b. Epaone, a.
c. Orleans III, a.
d. Orleans IV, a.
e. Macon I, a./
f. Macon II, a.
g. Paris V, October
h, Clichy, a./
i. Losne, a./
D. From The Formularies
, Angers Fomulary
a. Loans and Mortgages
b, Debt Bondage
c. Manumissions
d. A Judgment and Notice of its Performance
e, Warranting and Default
f, Notice of Discharge Securitas
g, Divorce
. The Formulary of Marculf
a, Royal Appointment of a Count, Duke, or Patricius
b, Enrolling in the King's Retinue
c, A License to Become a Cleric
d, Grants of Immunity
e, Loan and Interest
f, A Mandate
E, Royal Charters
. Dispute Settlement Before the King's Court: A Judgment of Childebert III, a,or
Chapter Sixteen: History, Legend, and Romance
A, The Origins of the Franks and Their Kings
, Gregory of Tours, Hist. II
. Fredegar, Chron. II,, and III,
. The Anonymous History of the Franks LHF
B, Historical Tales and Historical Romance in Fredegar's Chronicle
, Aetius, the Huns, and the Goths II
, The Deeds of Theoderic the Great II,,
, Chroc Follows His Mothers Advice II
, Justinian, Belisarius, And Their Wives II
, The Lombards, Narses, and Italy III
C, Tales of the Early Franks and Their Kings
I, Fredegar's Chronicle
. Overthrow of Trier III
, Childeric and Wiomad III
, Basina, Childeric, and Visions in the Night III
, Clovis, Aurelianus, and Chlothild III,
, The Baptism of Clovis III
, Paternus, Clovis's Envoy to Alaric II
, The Expulsion of Marcatrude by Guntram III
, Gogo, Brunhild, and Chrodin III
, The Death of Sigibert and the Rescue of Childebert II III
, The Death of Chilperic III
II, The Anonymous History of the Franks LHF
, Clovis, Aurelianus, and Chlothild LHF
, From Cloviss Campaign Against the Goths LHF
, Fredegund Displaces Audovera LHF
, Fredegund, Landeric, and the Death of Chilperic LHF
, Fredegund Defeats the Austrasians at Droizy LHF
, The Battles of the Orvanne and Zulpich, and the Death of Brunhild LHF
, Chlothar and Dagobert LHF
Chapter Seventeen: Epilogues and Postscripts: From Charles Martel to the End of Merovingian Kingship
A, The Victories of Charles Martel
, The First Continuator of Fredegar, a,
. The Battle of Poitiers in the Mozarabic Chronicle of
B, From The Correspondence of Saint Boniface
, Charles Martel Commends Boniface to all Frankish Officials, a,XIV,
. Bishop Daniel of Winchester Advises Boniface on the Method of Conversion, a,XV,
. Replies of Pope Gregory II to Questions of Boniface,NovemberXVIII,
, Pope Gregory III Promotes Boniface to the Rank of Missionary Archbishop and Sends him the Pallium, ca,XX,
. Boniface to Pope Zacharias on the Latters Accession to the Papacy, early inXL,
, A Decree of Carloman, Mayor of the Eastern Franks, Based on Deliberations of Synods inandXLIV
C, From Mayoralty to Kingship
, From the Second and Third Continuation of Fredegar
, From the Royal Frankish Annals
D, Einhard on the last Merovingians
, From the Life of Charlemagne
Index of Source Types, Authors, and Works
List of Illustrations and Maps
Figures
.
The origin of the Franks according to Fredegar I
Genealogies
, The Early Merovingians: Clovis, his Sons, and Grandsons
, The Early Merovingians: Sigibert I, Brunhild, and their Descendants
, The Early Merovingians: Chilperic I, Fredegund, and their Descendants
, The Later Merovingians: Dagobert I and his Descendants
, The Arnulfings or Pippinids Early Carolingians
Maps
, Western Provinces of the Roman Empire ca,
. Gaul in the Early Fifth Century
, Spain and the Western Mediterranean in the Fifth Century
, Bishoprics, Late Fifth to Late Seventh Centuries, Keyed to a List of Bishoprics and Civitates of the Fifthcentury Notitia Galliarum
, Regions of Gaul and Its Neighbours,