Récits des temps mérovingiens

Récits des temps mérovingiens #1-2

by Augustin Thierry

Ce livre est une oeuvre du domaine public éditée au format numérique par Norph-Nop. L’achat de l’édition Kindle inclut le téléchargement via un réseau sans fil sur votre liseuse et vos applications de lecture Kindle

Genres: History, France

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Jacques Nicolas Augustin Thierry, better known as Augustin Thierry was a French historian. Although originally a follower of Henri de Saint-Simon, he later developed his own approach to history. A committed liberal, his approach to history often introduced a romantic interpretation, although he did engage in research of primary sources. He nevertheless was recognised as a significant historian of the evolution of communal governance. He was the elder broter of Amédée Thierry and the uncle of Gilbert Augustin Thierry.

Jacques Nicolas Augustin Thierry, mieux connu sous le nom d'Augustin Thierry est un historien français. Bien qu'à l'origine un disciple d'Henri de Saint-Simon, il a développé plus tard sa propre approche de l'histoire. Libéral engagé, son approche de l'histoire a souvent introduit une interprétation romantique, bien qu'il se soit engagé dans la recherche de sources primaires. Il a néanmoins été reconnu comme un historien important de l'évolution de la gouvernance communale. Il était le frère aîné d'Amédée Thierry and the uncle of Gilbert Augustin Thierry.

Reviews

[Roy Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the tale of the early Merovingian kings, the Franks who had conquered Gaul and ruled after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. After Clovis, and Childebert I. The sons of King Lothar inherit the kingdom, and immediately begin to try to gain the upper hand on one another. Charibert, Chilperic, Sigibert, and Guntram. There is also Sigibert’s son Childibert. Sometimes it’s hard to keep them straight, especially since the book is organized into story lines, as the chapters jump around time wise.

This book has all the makings of a novel. One central character is the evil stepmother, Fredegund. She holds grudges, and is adept at using conniving schemes to take out her enemies. She is the queen of Chilperic, who often seems oblivious to her machinations. The princes from his first queen, Merovech and Clovis, meet a bitter end. As do others. The only one she is unable to assail is Bishop Gregory of Tours. He is portrayed as having unassailable character and wisdom, and is really the hero of the book. He represents the moral compass holding the Franks in check. One of the themes of the book is how the civilized Gallo Roman nobility are ruled by the barbarian Franks. The Franks are christianized, and adapt to the customs of those they rule, which sometimes limits their worst impulses. But not always.

Things I liked most about the book were the descriptions of Frankish and Gallic customs. And the interactions between the royalty and the clergy. The proceedings of the trials were interesting.

[Teri Drake-Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little hard to follow, as the timeline sort of jumped back and forth, the author preferring to divide the history into "stories". I had to keep going back to see when this or that person was killed, or how Fredegund could have a fifteen year old son when two pages before the author had mentioned "her only son, born just two months prior" or whatever. Some of that might've been because this book was a translation.

Beyond the timeline issues, though, I enjoyed this. I learned a lot more about the Merovingians; most of the stories contained in the book I'd never heard before anywhere. And it certainly shed light on this fascinating but often brutal and barbaric family - definitely not the "descended from Jesus, royal and noble" family that a certain Dan Brown novel would have you believe!

Chilperic in particular made me furious. What a horrible, terrible bastard he was.

How there isn't a TV series or book series about the Merovingians I will never know. There is so much to pull from!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who is not yet brave enough to tackle Proust, this exploration and discussion of his great novel helped prepare me should the day ever arrive. My last attempt at Proust was some 20 years ago, and I'm guessing another 20 should do it. I can say nothing about the merit of this work or the given interpretations, but it gave me a good footing from which to proceed.