Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective

Front Cover
Ian N. Wood
Boydell & Brewer, 1998 - 481 pages
The Franks were the most successful of all the barbarian peoples to establish a kingdom in the aftermath of the collapse of the West Roman Empire, among their victims being their immediate neighbours, the Alamans, who were engulfed in the course of Frankish expansion. This volume, the third in a series derived from conferences held in the Republic of San Marino, considers the Franks and Alamans from a series of perspectives, historical, archaeological, and linguistic; the origins of both peoples are considered, as are the settlement patterns of the Alamans, the urban, social, and legal history of the Franks, together with Frankish involvement in missions to the east of the Rhine, the role played by the Franks in the development of early medieval incest legislation, and the evidence of Frankish treasure.IAN WOOD is Professor of Early Medieval History at the University of Leeds. Contributors: H.J. HUMMER, F. DAMMINGER, M. DE JONG, GUY HALSALL, F. SIEGMUND, IAN WOOD, S.T. LOSEBY, P.J. FOURACRE, M. HARDT, D.H. GREEN, G. AUSENDA
 

Contents

Wood
9
Franks and Alamanni a historical sketch Frankish ethnogenesis Alamannic
21
Introduction Settlement features Rural settlements Central places
89
EARLY MEDIEVAL INCEST LEGISLATION
107
Some evidence Conflict and confusion Explanations Alternatives
125
SOCIAL IDENTITIES AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN EARLY MEROVINGIAN
141
Identities and barriers Theory 2 Dynamics of sociopolitical change
165
Sources Élite Life development Size of communities Ethnicity Ethnic units and élite
199
Discussion
270
THE NATURE OF FRANKISH POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE SEVENTH
285
Discussion
301
IMITATIO IMPERII
317
Discussion
331
THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FRANKS ON THE CHRISTIAN
343
Discussion
361
CURRENT ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF FRANKS
371

JURAL RELATIONS AMONG THE FRANKS AND ALAMANNI I Wood
213
Discussion
226
URBAN FUNCTIONS IN SIXTHCENTURY GAUL
239
Gregorys cities Government and administration Security and defence
263
History Kinship and marriage Social structure Jural relations and conflict Rural
442
INDEX
455
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