Francia —
The Royalty of the Merovingians
and Carolingians
Celtic Metz · Trojan Origins · Clovis I · Arnulf of Metz · Pepin the Short
Metz was a central holding to British and European Royal families, and has a recorded history dating back over 3,000 years; preceding rulership of the modern Royal family of England. Before the conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, Metz was the oppidum of the Celtic Mediomatrici tribe. Whence integrated into the Roman Empire, Metz became a principal town of Gaul until the barbarian depredations and its transfer to the Franks about the end of the 5th century. Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the city was the residence of the Merovingian kings of Austrasia. After the Treaty of Verdun in 843, Metz became the capital of the kingdom of Lotharingia and was ultimately integrated into the Holy Roman Empire, being granted semi-independent status. During the 12th century, Metz rose to the status of Republic and the Republic of Metz ruled until the 15th century. With the signature of the Treaty of Chambord in 1552, Metz was passed to the hands of the Kings of France.
In medieval times and according to Roman historians, the Salian Franks once dwelled by the Merwede (or "Merwe" in Middle Dutch) which was the name of a continuous stretch of river. The Merwede is part of the main shipping route between Rotterdam and Germany and technically the wider region of the river capable of handling significant traffic. Allegedly this was the origin of the legendary founder of the Merovingians; Merovech. Sourced to the Sicambrian 'Fisher Kings' the Salian Franks, meaning 'salty' were the Franks distinguished by their habitat, and tradition in fishing, dating back to Trojans, along with the worship of Poseidon.
Records conflict on the origins but are consolidated with rulership of King Antenor. Some indications were that he initiated a dominion under a warrior code, after extensive missions within the Asian heartland. Others maintain he as the wisest Troyan elder took responsibility for rebuilding the city after Agamemnon's lengthy siege and the trick of the Trojan horse (some further dispute he actually ushered in the Greek coalition through the gate of Troy). Some state in 1183 BC that he and the surviving Trojans with Paphlagonian allies, the Eneti or Veneti, who also lost king Pylaemenes; settled the Euganean plain in Italy. Merovingian accounts detail however that this 'tribe' also migrated further west, in migration particularly discerned by commander Marcomrius' death.
The Trojans, as said hence settled at the delta of Pannonia, where these; "The Sicambrian Franks, from whose female line the Merovingians emerged." The refugees or settlers "were associated with Grecian Arcadia before migrating to the Rhineland... they called themselves the Newmage — People of the New Covenant." The 'fish' so symbolically define this Merovingian dynasty, aligned with the Arcadian legacy who identify with the sea beast — the Bistea Neptunis —, King Pallas, and the Gods of old Arcadia.
Source: Laurence Gardner, Bloodline of the Holy Grail, pp. 166, 175The Pagan Barbarians, as they were commonly termed, ruled the northern surrounds of the Roman empire, distinct to the Vikings. Only later were these officially (safely) taken to Kingship titles within the protection of the Romans (Catholics), all post-standard establishments in trading dynasties empowered in transition from the Bronze to the Iron Age. The nomadic tribes of Germanic peoples that were referred to collectively as the Goths, had since flourished during the late Roman Empire in Late Antiquity, or the Migration Period. The Visigoths emerged from earlier Gothic groups (possibly the Thervingi), and were infamously anti-semites, and were typically persecuted by the Romans. The Visigoths would invade the Roman Empire beginning with a rebellion in 376, then defeating the Romans at the Battle of Adrianople in 378 before Alaric I sacked Rome in 410.
It's alleged that around 457 and after the death of his father Childeric I (son of Merovech), Clovis I was by popular creed (leader) in control of the lands he had received as a foederatus of the Romans. (officially the Frankish kingdom was attributable to Rome but only termed so, just as any outlying nations to which ancient Rome provided benefits in exchange for military assistance. The term was also used, especially under the Roman Empire for groups of "barbarian" mercenaries of various sizes, who were typically allowed to settle within the Empire).
Of the numerous small Frankish Kingdoms during the 5th century, the Salian Franks were one of two primary Frankish tribes. Their power base was in the Tournai region, between France and Belgium. In 463 as per the unofficial treaty of the foederatus, Childeric had fought along with the Roman Aegidius, the magister militum of northern Gaul, successfully against the Visigoths in Orléans, and killing commander Federico, the brother of Theodoric II. The Visigoths weren't easily routed however, returning the Roman provocation at the Battle of Déols where a Romano-British invasion-army under Riothamus was defeated by the Visigoths from 470-71.
Clovis I — The Consolidation of FranciaClovis like Childeric was thought to have similarly become commander of the Roman military in the Province of Belgica Secunda under General Aegidius. By the time Clovis had matured however, circumstances with the Rump-Roman assemblage had changed and Clovis pre-empted the imminent collapse of the Western Roman Empire between 476 and 480 by betraying the son of Aegidus, General Syagrius, in the Battle of Soissons 486. Consequently attaining land and almost doubling the regional power of the Franks. Frankish territory was bordered on the Loire adjacent to the realm of the Visigoths, until succeeding to rout the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé in 507, forcing retreat beyond the Pyrenées. As Clovis gained the significant holding of Aquitane, the modern state boundary of France became defined. In due course Clovis had marched against Chararic, captured and executed him and his sons. He had killed Ragnachar, the Frankish king of Cambrai, along with his brothers. He secured an alliance with the Ostrogoths through the marriage of his sister Audofleda to their King, Theodoric the Great. Also with the help of the other Frankish sub-kings, he defeated the Alamanni in the Battle of Tolbiac.
Whence making Paris his capital, Holy King Clovis established an abbey dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul on the south bank of the Seine, and converting to Catholicism — called a synod of Gallic bishops to meet in Orléans to reform the Church in 511.
Whence making Paris his capital, Holy King Clovis established an abbey dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul on the south bank of the Seine, and; converting to Catholicism. Clovis called a synod of Gallic bishops to meet in Orléans to reform the Church in 511 and created a strong link between the Crown and the Catholic episcopate. This was the First Council of Orléans when Thirty-three bishops assisted and passed 31 decrees on the duties and obligations of individuals, the right of sanctuary, and ecclesiastical discipline. These decrees, equally applicable to Franks and Romans, first established equality between conquerors and conquered.
The Merovingian Succession — Civil Wars & the Rise of MetzOf his four sons, Childebert son of Saint Clotilda, was to take the holding of Paris and Brittany. The battles with the Visigoths continued of course as the four sons of Clovis all fought the Burgundian kings Sigismund and Godomar. Clothier (Chlothar) succeeded similarly as his father Clovis had done in uniting the Frankish kingdoms and likewise passed a four fold division of it onto his four sons. They however collapsed into a civil war, with Siegbert succeeding in passing on the Kingship to Childebert II (570–95) before his assassination; who was smuggled to Metz at five years of age. Childebert II survived many attempts at his life and eventually annexed the Kingdom of Burgundy.
Arnulf of Metz or Arnold in English, was a Frankish bishop of Metz (582–640) and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia who had recognised Childebert's sovereign claim even at five years of age, and eventually serviced his son Theudebert II in council at Metz. Arnulf distinguished himself both as a military commander and in the civil administration, and at one time he had under his care six distinct provinces. Arnulf married Doda in 596, originating the Arnulfing line as sourced back to Zerah, King David, and Joseph of Arimathea, and a partisan of the Carolingians, they would take power over the Merovingians in time in trend with Clovis, companion to the Popes Roman Catholics, and an alternative Merovingian line sourced to Chlodio.
Theudebert II, and his younger brother Theuderic II were Childebert II sons who fought against each other for the Kingdoms and against their cousin Clothar II, who defeated both and achieved another total unification of the Franks. In 614, Chlothar II promulgated the Edict of Paris, and In 623, he gave the Kingdom of Austrasia to his young son Dagobert I largely in repayment for the support given by the Bishop Arnulf of Metz and Pepin I to Childebert, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, the two leading Austrasian nobles, who were effectively granted semi-autonomy.
Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian king Dagobert I from 623 to 629, also Mayor for Sigebert III from 639 until his own death; Pippin of Landen (also called the Elder) was lord of a great part of Brabant. He became the governor of Austrasia too when Theodebert II was defeated by Theodoric II. When Pippin of Landen became Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, serving King Dagobert I after Clothier II; through the marriage of his daughter Begga to Ansegisel in 613, he secured the clans of the Pippinid's and the Arnulfing's central to Carolingian power.
In 632, the nobles of Austrasia revolted and King Dagobert appeased the rebellious nobles by installing a new ruler, his three-year-old son, Sigebert III who would control Austrasia somewhat independently. The complacency of the titles of Kings continued somewhat, with boy-kings, nobility feuds, and domicile religious control, until the Merovingian line had acceded its Frankish titled ownership to the Carolingian's. Not until Charles Martel were the Frankish statesman and military leaders who, titled Dukes and Princes of the Franks or Mayor of the Palace; actual de facto Rulers of Francia. Military campaigns were re-establishing the Franks as the undisputed masters of all Gaul and controlled by the Mayors instead of the Kings. Martel had continued to install several of the Merovingians, a practice ending with Childeric III (c. 717 – c. 754) when Martels son Pepin officially took over in 751.
Pepin the Short — The Carolingian CoupPepin the Short (714–768) having resolved to take the Royal title for himself after Carloman retired to a monastery in 747, sent letters to Pope Zachary asking whether the title of King belonged to the one who had exercised power or the one with the Royal lineage. The Pope responded that the real power should have the royal title as well. In early March 751 Childeric was dethroned by Pope Zachary and tonsured. His long hair was the symbol of his dynasty and thus the Royal rights or magical powers was cut, so divesting him of all Royal prerogatives. Once desposed, he and his son Theuderic were taken to the monastery of Saint-Bertin or he in Saint-Omer and Theuderic in Saint-Wandrille. King Pepin (the Short) reformed the legislation of the Franks and continued a ecclesiastical reformation, creating the legal basis for the Papal States of the Middle Ages.
The standard scholarly treatment — the book that rescued the Merovingians from the contempt of Carolingian-influenced historiography. Wood covers every aspect of the age, from the rise of the Franks through the establishment of the dynasty and the structure of the Merovingian kingdoms, whose borders moved to and fro under the pressures of external enemies and internal dynastic conflict. The book makes the essential point that much of what we know about the Merovingians was written by their successors, who had every reason to diminish them. Indispensable for this post.
The most accessible gateway into the period for a non-specialist. Geary situates the Merovingians within the broader transformation of the late Roman world — the moment when "France" and "Germany" as distinct entities were still centuries away and the Frankish world was a fluid post-Roman space. Consistently recommended as the starting point before Wood.
The title comes from the Merovingian practice of wearing their hair long as a sign of royal power — the same "long hair" that Pepin cut from Childeric III's head in 751 as the symbolic act of divestiture described in this post. Wallace-Hadrill's essay collection remains essential for the dynastic and ceremonial dimensions of Merovingian kingship that Wood and Geary treat more structurally.
The natural companion to Wood — where Wood ends with Pepin's coup, McKitterick begins. She is the leading authority on Carolingian cultural and political history, and her treatment of the transition from Merovingian to Carolingian — the mechanics of how Pepin and the Pope constructed the legitimacy of the new dynasty from the ruins of the old — is the best available. In the 150 years of the Carolingian period alone, 8,000 to 9,000 books survive — against a few hundred Merovingian manuscripts across 250 years — and McKitterick explains why the written record itself is part of the power shift.
Cited directly in the text above (pp. 166, 175) for the Sicambrian-Arcadian origin tradition of the Merovingians. Gardner's argument — that the Merovingian line descends from a Trojan-Arcadian Fisher King tradition rooted in worship of the sea and in the symbol of the fish — is not accepted by mainstream historians, who treat the Trojan origin myth as a deliberate genealogical construction of the Merovingian court itself rather than historical fact. However the myth is real, its political function within the dynasty is real, and Gardner's popular treatment of it is the most accessible account of what the Merovingians believed or claimed about themselves.
Written by Jason Steven Jowett. Sourced from historical fact and cited research. This blog may not be reproduced in whole without the author's express permission. Copyright © 2024. greatbrittania.blogspot.com
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