Late Merovingian France: History And Hagiography, 640-720

by Richard A. Gerberding (Editor), Richard A. Gerberding (Editor)

A translation and interpretation of eight Merovingian Francia narrative texts from 640 to 720 presenting a view of the "Dark Ages" that concerns itself with the ways in which early medieval society organized itself for political ends. The stories tell remarkable tales of queens, kings, warriors, clergy, and saints, and reveal more to the period than simply an age of economic and political decline. The enthusiasm of the authors is reflected in the careful translation, discussions of historical background, and examinations of hagiography and historiography in general.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

397 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Robert Monk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun, if you happen to be me or someone like me. It's a collection of mostly 7th century works, annals and chronicles and saint's lives, things like that. Primary sources. The premise of the book is that most of what we think we know about the Merovingians comes from what their successors, the Carolingians, wrote about them. So what did they say about themselves? Does the Carolingian story hold up? Were the Merovingians decadent and useless, well to be replaced, or is that just spin? The editors of this work suggest that perhaps the Carolingians felt a bit of a need to justify themselves, but they aren't overly intrusive. If you're a fan of early Medieval history, this is worth checking out.