Merovingian Francia and Visgothic Gaul Flashcards
what were the dates of Clovis’ life?
c.466-511
who was Clovis?
first ‘king’ to unite Frankish tribes under one ruler and founder of the Frankish state that came to include most of the Roman provinces of Gaul, as well as territories across the Rhine
when was the period of Frankish amalgamation?
507-8
since when was Clovis a Frankish chieftan?
480s
what did Frankish kingship join together?
pagan Frankish war lord and holy untouchable figure of authority
how long till did the Merovingians rule?
until 751
what is the account of Clovis’s career based overwhelmingly on?
the Histories by Gregory of Tours
what were the dates of Gregory of Tours life?
538-594
why are there few controls to monitor Gregory’s treatment of Frankish history?
he has a hold on subsequent texts such as Fredgar’s chronicle
what image does Collin’s say Gregory creates of Clovis?
‘image of an ideal catholic warrior king’
what does Wood say about Gregory’s account of Clovis?
‘seemed more concerned to create the image of a Catholic King against whom his successors could be assessed, than with any desire to provide an accurate account of the reign’
what was Gregory of Tours background?
aristocratic Gallo-Roman so well informed due to network of connections
what problems did Clovis face when he came to power?
1) System of governance/administration needed to be put in place
2) Borders needed to be defended
3) Laws needed to be put in place (inherited some Roman ones)
4) Establish legitimacy
evidence of Clovis’ deceptive and opportunistic approach to making alliances
1) Clovis initially persuades Chloderic to murder his father Sigibert but then murders Chloderic
2) secretly murdered Sygarius (ruler of the kingdom of Soissons)
3) orchestrated the destruction of Ragnachar
what did Clovis promise Chloderic if he mudered his father according to Gregory?
‘my alliance would come with it’
what does James say about treasure and political power in Clovis’s time?
1) ‘A treasury was the keystone of political power’
2) ‘Political power depended on supplies of treasure. Loyalty had to be bought; an ungenerous lord was an unsuccessful lord’
what does Chloderic say after killing his father and what is its significance?
‘I have taken over his kingdom and his treasure’ (placing two side by side demonstrated the importance of treasure in legitimising kingship)
why does Clovis decline to share in Chloderic’s inherited treasure?
careful not to share in the guilt that the treasure is symbolic of
what did Clovis do after taking over Alaric II’s kingdom and why is it significant?
‘removed all treasure from Toulouse’ (Gregory) (meant that the Goths had no incentive to return)
why was acclamation arguably the basis for Clovis’ rule?
he took pains to ensure that his public persona was viewed in a good light by the people that he sought to conquer
what does Clovis do to Chloderic according to Gregory?
sent envoys to ‘split Chloderic’s skull’
what did Clovis say about the murder of Sigibert and Chloderic?
‘I take no responsibility for what has happened. It is not for me to shed the blood of one of my fellow kings for that is a crime’’ (allows him to ascend to kingship of Chloderic’s people with their support as opposed to animosity)
what did the Rhineland Franks do to acclaim Clovis?
‘they raised Clovis on a shield and made him their ruler’
what did Clovis do according to Gregory when his troops marched on Poitiers?
‘Clovis forbade his troops to take any booty as they marched in, or to rob any man of his possessions’