The Merovingian Mirror

2016

Table of Contents Honorary Presidents General

Table of Contents………………………….. 2

Honorary Presidents General………………. 2

Remarks of the President General………… 3

Officers of the Order……..………………... 4

Proposed Slate of Officers 2017-2019…….. 5

New Members……………………………... 6

Candidate Proposal Form………………….. 7 Richard Allen Gregory Hardwick Smith Johnson, Jr., Ed.D. 2004-2009 2009-2011 2016 Minutes of the Annual Meeting...……. 8-9

Barbarian Kings, & Merovingians…. 10-15

Annual Meeting..…………………………... 16

Scholarships………..….....………………… 16

2017 Speaker Dr. C. Brian Rose...………… 17

Recollections from 2016….……………….. 18-20

Merovingian Bloodlines…….....………….. 21 COL Charles C. Lucas, M.D. Brantley Carter Bolling Knowles 2011-2013 2013-2015 Silk Scarf Order Form…………………….. 22

Membership Supply Order Form………….. 23

Report corrections to the Secretary General

Cover Baptême de Clovis à Reims Le 25 décembre 498 (496 selon certains historiens)

Website www.merovingiandynasty.org

Editor: Barry Christopher Howard

Remarks of the OMD President General Dianne Alley Robinson

My sincere thanks to each of you for the honor of serving our august Order as your President General. The past two years could not have been more enjoyable and productive. I have my Board and Advisory Council to thank, as well as our Honorary Presidents General for their sage advice and support.

Our membership continues to thrive and grow under the excel- lent work of Karen McClendon, Registrar, and John R. Har- man, Jr., Genealogist. Both labor on our behalf to see that the Order’s lineages remain accurate and that each applicant feels special.

The Finances of the Order are very healthy, thanks to the ef- forts of Barry Howard, Treasurer, and the kind donations from so many of you. Our Scholarship is one of the most wonderful aspects of OMD, and it sparkles each time we see the smiles of the recipients as they accept their awards and beautiful certifi- cates.

Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to Honorary President General Knowles, Chair of the Nominating Commit- tee, as well as all who have served with her in that effort. I am most appreciative of the outgoing Officers who have served faithfully, as well as the new Officers who have agreed to serve during the 2017-2019 term.

Plans are under way for the next luncheon, to be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Please note the details in this publication, as well as the biography of our speaker, Dr. Brian Rose. He will share updates with us re- garding his team’s newest dig site in Turkey.

The OMD Scarf project, though a bit delayed with dyes being confirmed, will soon be available. Those inter- ested may submit the order form located on page 22.

Thank you again for your support and all you do for the Order of the Merovingian . A very happy holi- day season to you and yours. I look forward to seeing you in April. Dianne Alley Robinson

Officers of the Order 2015-2017

President General Genealogist General Dianne Alley Robinson John Robert Harman, Jr. 18602 Balmore Pine Lane 2112 White Oak Road Cornelius, North Carolina 28031-5208 Raleigh, North Carolina 27608-1452

First Vice President General Assistant Genealogist General Charles William Neuhauser Philip Robert Livingston 4 Stable Road 77 Oak Knoll Road Tuxedo Park, New York 10987 Glen Rock, New Jersey 07452-1631

Second Vice President General Registrar General Juanita Sue Augustus Karen Elizabeth McClendon 6714 Pebble Beach 1403 Hawthorne Lane Houston, Texas 77069-2443 Keller, Texas 76262-7308

Third Vice President General Chaplain General Anna Boykin Ferguson Duff The Rev. Dr. Albert Clinton Walling, II 132 Laurel Lane 8406 Lofty Lane Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082 Round Rock, Texas 78681-3467

Fourth Vice President General Chancellor General Linda Corrinne Mistler, Ph.D. Craig Huseman , Esq. 20707 South Ruhl Road 3718 Cumberland Street, NW Freeland, Maryland 21053 Washington, DC 20016-1816

Treasurer General Counselor General Barry Christopher Howard Walter Jervis Sheffield, Esq. 1949 Green Mill Road 1314 Sophia Street Finksburg, MD 21048-1745 Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401-3742

Assistant Treasurer General Curator General Catherine McCreary Strauch Michael Scott Swisher 435 White Gables Lane 14511 Olinda Boulevard, North Suite 201 Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-1147 Charlottesville, VA 22903-4999 Archivist General Secretary General Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esq. Karen Warner Cardullo One Colley Avenue 1114 North Pitt Street Apartment 1702 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1455 Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Assistant Secretary General Webmaster and Editor General Michael Perry Schenk Barry Christopher Howard 108 Trace Cove Drive Madison, Mississippi 29110-9265 Advisory Council Anne Standish Brandt Surgeon General Charles E.F. Drake, M.D. CAPT George James Hill, M.D. The Rev. Dr. Lynne Godard Alcott Kogel 3 Silver Spring Road Frank Lee Perryman West Orange, New Jersey 07052-4317 Priscilla Bruce Roberts Brian Darrell White

Proposed Slate of Officers 2017-2019

Presented by the OMD Nominating Committee, in accordance with the OMD Bylaws

OMD Nominating Committee: Brantley Carter Bolling Knowles, Chairman Committee Members: Laurie Ann Cornwell Aldinger, Walter Jervis Sheffield*, Esq., Deborah Lee Frierson Wilhite, Brian Darrell White

President General - Dianne Alley Robinson 1st Vice President General - Charles William Neuhauser 2nd Vice President General - Anna Boykin Ferguson Duff 3rd Vice President General - Craig Huseman Metz, Esq. 4th Vice President General - Laura Dean Ramsay Treasurer General - Barry Christopher Howard Assistant Treasurer General - Charles Edward Horton Secretary General - Michael Perry Schenk Assistant Secretary General - Christopher Willard Moberg Surgeon General - CAPT George James Hill, M.D. Genealogist General - John Robert Harman, Jr. Assistant Genealogist General - Philip Robert Livingston Registrar General - Karen Elizabeth McClendon Chaplain General - The Reverend Dr. Lynne Godard Alcott Kogel Chancellor General - Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esq. Counselor General - Walter Jervis Sheffield, Esq. Curator General - Michael Scott Swisher Archivist General - Eric Jon Nielsen, M.D. Webmaster / Editor - Barry Christopher Howard

Advisory Council: Anne Standish Brandt Karen Warner Cardullo Dr. Susan Wray Cook Priscilla Bruce Roberts Heather Welty Speas Brian Darrell White

*Note: Mr. Sheffield recused himself regarding the discussion of the office of Counselor General

New Members 343 Carrolyn Ann Tryon Davies Percival Lowell, MA August 1, 2014 344 Charles Bryan Poland Thomas Ligon, VA August 10, 2014 345 Mary Jane Hunt Constant Southworth, PC August 10, 2014 346 John Bradford Kent Olive Welby, MA December 20, 2014 347 Judy May Anderson Blumenauer Elizabeth Kristina Kampe, MN December 20, 2014 348 Majel Lee Fritz Powell Robert Abell, MA February 7, 2015 349 Karla Suzanne Hader Walter Aston, VA February 7, 2015 350 Gresham Dew Crane Giles Brent, VA February 28, 2015 351 Peter Clayton Mark Victoria St. George Joyce, NY March 10, 2015 352 Madeline Elaine Wilson Alworth Mary Gye, MA March 13, 2015 353 Cheryl Faye Whitt Rios Lawrence Smith, VA March 13, 2015 354 Thomas Allen Chrisman Edward FitzRandolph, NJ March 16, 2015 355 Ivan Stanley Bennett Mary Gye, MA March 16, 2015 356 Patricia Ann Westgate Sayko Richard Bowen, PC March 18, 2015 357 Peter Lloyd Sheerin Peter Talbot, MA March 28, 2015 358 Erica Amanda Sheerin Peter Talbot, MA March 28, 2015 359 Todd Fillmore Sheerin Peter Talbot, MA March 28, 2015 360 Oma Mae Hill Gaines Edward Johns(t)on, VA April 3, 2015 361 Susan Wray Cook, Ph.D. Thomas Ligon, VA April 3, 2015 362 Christy Lee "Cricket" Crigler Thomas Bradbury, MA May 29, 2015 363 Lillie Frances Harrington Davis Roger Mallory, VA June 15, 2015 364 Beverly Ann Bateman Spooner Thomas Trowbridge, MA July 7, 2015 365 Kathleen Ann Loftman Agnes Harris, CT July 27, 2015 366 Shelby Dean Ward Edward Johns(t)on, VA August 9, 2015 367 Mollie J. London George Reade, VA August 30, 2015 368 Samuel Cleo Prather George Yate, MD August 31, 2015 369 Alecia Sue Paschall John Edward Foulke, PA September 23, 2015 370 Robert Joseph Avery Edward Raynsford, MA September 30, 2015 371 Ben Block Burton Jones II Thomas Keene, VA October 13, 2015 372 Craig Lee Montz, Esq. William Randolph, VA October 14, 2015 373 Mary Nell Nolan Young Thomas Ligon, VA November 28, 2015 374 John Macintosh Bourne Thomas Trowbridge, MA November 29, 2015 375 Carroll Lee Collins McNamara John Fisher II, VA December 14, 2015 376 Stacy Laird Sundgren John Throckmorton, MA/RI January 5, 2016 377 Mattie Frances Stephenson Olive Welby, MA January 27, 2016 378 Eleanor Stuart Childs Davis Thomas Dudley, MA February 1, 2016 379 Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. Thomas Owsley, VA February 27, 2016 380 Effie Thompson Holder John Fisher, VA March 29, 2016 381 Thomas Lee Jacques Anne Couvent, Quebec April 3, 2016 382 Janelle Via McKown Elizabeth Butler/Boetler, VA May 14, 2016 383 Signe Eve Wilson Sarah Ludlow, VA May 14, 2016 384 Sandra Hendrick Staley John West, VA May 25, 2016 385 Millicent McKinley Cox Sarah Ludlow, VA August 2, 2016 386 Barbara Elaine Teague Richard Palgrave, MA August 30, 2016

Please send completed Proposals for Membership to:

Karen Elizabeth McClendon Registrar General, OMD 1403 Hawthorne Lane Keller, TX 76262-7308

Email: gen

Order of the Twelfth Annual Council Meeting Minutes 13 April 2016 City Tavern Club, Washington, DC (Courtesy of Barry C. Howard)

The Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Council of the Order of the Merovingian Dynasty convened 13 April 2016 at The City Tavern Club in Washington, DC. Present General Dianne Alley Robinson called the meeting to order at 10:55. Mr. Barry Christopher Howard gave the invocation.

Officers in Attendance: Mrs. Dianne Alley Robinson, President General; Mr. Charles William Neu- hauser, 1st Vice President General; Mrs. Juanita Augustus, 2nd Vice President General; Mrs. Anna Duff, 3rd Vice President General; Mr. Barry Howard, Treasurer General and Webmaster; Mrs. Catherine Strauch, Assis- tant Treasurer General; Mrs. Karen Cardullo, Secretary General; Mr. Michael Schenk, Assistant Secretary General; George J. Hill, MD. Surgeon General; Mr. John Harman, Genealogist General; Mr. Philip Livingston, Assistant Genealogist General; Mrs. Karen McClendon, Registrar General; Mr. Craig Metz, Esq., Chancellor General; Mr. Walter Sheffield, Esq., Chancellor General; Mr. Carter Furr, Esq., Archivist General.

Honorary President General Brantley Carter Bolling Knowles was present.

Advisory Council in attendance: The Rev. Dr. Lynne Godard Alcott Kogel; Mr. Brian D. White

Officers excused: Linda Mistler, Ph.D., 4th Vice President General; Dr. Albert Walling, Chaplain General; Mr. Mike Swisher, Curator General

The Secretary General was asked to take Roll Call. Approval of the Minutes: Motion: Approve minutes from the 15 April 2015 meeting Vote: Motion carried Resolved: Minutes from the meeting on 15 April 2015 approved without modification.

Officer Reports: President General’s Report: President General Dianne Alley Robinson reported that the new Member- ship Roster has been published and mailed to the members in October 2015. Given that the Roster was mailed in October, the President General decided not to issue a newsletter at that time, in order to save money, and issue the newsletter in the Fall of 2016, informing members of the activities of the organization.

Given that the financial position is much improved for the Order of the Merovingian Dynasty, the President General asked the board to consider an honorarium to be given to Dr. Brian Rose, the James B. Pritchard Pro- fessor of Archeology at the University of Pennsylvania in the Classical Studies Department. For the last sever- al years, Dr. Rose, an honorary member of the Order, has been the featured speaker and is working with the Order to select two graduate students to receive a scholarship check, that is presented at the annual meeting of the Order.

Motion: To give Dr. Rose a check in the amount of $1,000.00 for his work on the scholarship program. Vote: All present voted in favor Resolved: Motion carried

Given that the student scholarship awardees incur travel expense to attend the Order’s annual meeting to re- ceive their scholarship check and certificate, the following motion was made:

Motion: To reimburse the scholarship students for their travel expense to attend the annual meeting of the Or- der of the Merovingian Dynasty to receive their scholarship award and certificate. Vote: All present voted in favor Resolved: Motion carried

Order of the Merovingian Dynasty Twelfth Annual Council Meeting Minutes continued

The President General appointed Mr. Walter Sheffield, Esq. to fill the office of Chancellor General and Rev. Dr. Lynn Godard Alcott Kogel to the Advisory Council. The President General thanked Mr. Walter Sheffield for the purchase of the new American flag and stand.

Marisol Scarf Project for the Order of the Merovingian Dynasty: Mrs. Anna Duff presented the final artwork for the Marisol scarf project. A discussion ensued with respect to using the Pantone color as a defini- tive guide for matching the OMD colors to the scarf.

Report of the Genealogist General: Mr. John Robert Harman, Jr., Genealogist General, received genea- logical affidavits from individuals that have been reviewed since the 2015 annual meeting of the Order. The list of individuals is included in the Genealogist General’s report. In consultation with the Registrar General, the short form applications are completed by the applicant to the immigrant (gateway) ancestor. The short form is completed and expanded by this officer utilizing the approved applications of other reputable lineage societies, reliable secondary sources, or the internal files of this Order. At the request of the President General, the short forms have been expanded during this term to exhibit the entirety of a line of decent from Merovee. The Genealogist General made every effort to ensure papers received for review from the Registrar General received proper attention and timely assistance prior to genealogical approval. Those papers approved by the Genealogist General were digitally signed and returned to the Registrar General for final processing. Follow- ing the approval of new members by the Registrar General, Genealogist General continued to order and proof- read membership certificates produced and shipped by the printing office, Alphagraphics in Arvada, Colorado. Seven file boxes of records pertaining to the Order have been received from the estate of the late Genealogist General, Timothy F. Beard, FASG. These records are consolidated as time permits. Electronic records for the majority of OMD application files have been produced and archived.

Report of Registrar General: Mrs. Karen Elizabeth McClendon, Registrar General, reported that fifty invitations were sent to prospective members with about half responding. The Order has twenty new members with three papers pending at this time. The Registrar General is also responsible for the insignia orders: thir- teen orders, some of which were for more than one piece; filled order for nine miniatures, four charms, four large medals and one patch. The Registrar General also produced the OMD Roster for this term and is keeping it updated as changes occur.

Report of the Treasurer General: Mr. Barry Christopher Howard, Treasurer General distributed the treasurer’s report to the Council. The balance as of May 1, 2015 $44,782.69; Revenue $27,980.00; Expense $20,411.21; Total $52,531.48. The Order received four donations totaling $200.00 during the periods con- veyed; also received $600.00 for “scarves,” as part of the revenue base. The annual 900 filing with the IRS was completed in a timely manner; the annual filing with the Registered Agent in Nevada was completed in a timely manner.

Report of the Curator General: Mr. Michael Scott Swisher, Curator General, reported to the Secretary General by electronic mail: The regalia worn by Presidents General of the Order is secure in the vault of the Curator General until needed.

Other Business:The President General appointed Honorary President General Brantley Carter Bolling Knowles as the chair of the Nominating Committee, as 2017 is an election year. Members of the Order of the Merovingian will receive the Newsletter in the fall, which will include the Council meeting minutes and a list of the new members, along with other articles of interest to the membership.

There being no further business or announcements, the 13 April 2016 Twelfth Annual Council Meeting of the Order of the Merovingian Dynasty was adjourned, following the Benediction given by Mr. Barry Christoper- her Howard.

Karen M. Cardullo Secretary General

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D.

Barbarian Kings The ended in 476 and was replaced with a num- ber of states ruled by barbarian kings. In the 6th century was controlled by the Ostragoths, by the Franks and , and Spain by the . A century later, the controlled northern Italy, and the Franks were un- challenged in France, and the Anglos and were in Bri- tannia.

Franks It was the kingdom of the Franks which was to exercise the most influence for the longest time. For the first three centuries of its existence until 751, it was ruled by a single family, that of the Merovingians There were two groups of Franks-the and the . The Salian Franks (sea dwelling) lived North and East of Limes in the Dutch coastal area, and in the 5th centu- ry migrated throughout and into northern France. By the 4th and 5th centuries, the Belgian city of had become the center of activity. The Ripuarian Franks (river dwelling) lived along the river and were called Ripuarian by the Romans. By the 9th century any differences between these two groups had disappeared. They were involved with the Romans as military recruits in the . Gregory of , the historian, placed the emergence of the Merovingians at the conclusion of the Frankish migration. The Liber Historiae Francorum went further, connecting them with the Trojan migration. wrote that the Franks had created long haired kings in (Belgium). Gregory of Tours was troubled that there was no clear passage of royalty to the Franks from a line of Kings, but other scholars were not troubled since historical records were lacking. The line of Frankish Kings began with Frankus who died 11 BC. The line continued from Frankus to .

The history of Chlodio from Gregory of Tours and Sidonius Apollinarius.

Chlodio, was a semi-legendary King of the Salian Franks. He lived in Dispargum which was a castle. Around 431 he invaded the territory of Artois but was defeated near Hesdin by Aetius, Commander of the Roman Army in . He regrouped and captured (Cameracum) and occupied territory as far as the Somme River. He made Tournai the capital of all Salian Franks. He died 447-449.

Chlodio «le Chevelu», roi des Francs (c.395 - c.448)

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D. continued

MEROVINGIAN KINGS MEROVEE () Merovee According to the Chronicles of Fredegar, Merovee (Merovech), the first of the Merovingian Kings, was conceived by Chlodio's wife when she went swimming and was encountered by a Quinotaur, a sea monster. The royal dynasty was thus given a supernatural origin. The actual parentage of Merovee is subject to conjec- ture, but he was clearly a Frank. Stuart in Royalty for Commoners states he was either a son or a son-in-law of Chlodio. Merovee, the first Merovingian King, fought along side Flavius Aetius the Roman ruler when the Hun was defeated in 451. Merovee was proclaimed King of the Franks in 448 and reigned for 10 years. Under Merovee and his successors, the kingdom of the Franks flourished. It was not the crude barbaric culture often imagined. It warrants comparision with the high culture of the Byzantines. Secular literacy was encouraged. They built lavish Roman styled amphitheaters in and . The Franks were brutal but not like the and the . They accumulated immense wealth. They were active in farming, commerce, and maritime trade. Their gold coins that were minted bore an equal arm cross.

Childeric I The son of Merovee was , who fought at Angiers. Childeric was ex-

pelled from the Franks for sexual profligacy. Childeric returned to power and married the wife of the King of Thurigia. Childeric's grave was found in 1653 in Tournai and was filled with weapons, gold, jewelry, Byzantine coins, and gold cicadas or bees. This is one of the most important medieval treasures ever found.

Clovis The of Rheims wrote a letter to Clovis, son of Childeric I, which has been pre- served. With Clovis, we have the beginnings of a substantial documented history. Gregory of Tours could at last chronicle a Barbarian King. Clovis reigned from 481-511 and was the major Merovingian King as was the major Carolingian King. Gregory of Tours writes that Clovis defeated ; he then married Clothilda, daughter of a Burgundian King, who attempted to convert him to but failed. Clothilda was later named a . Beginning as early as 496 there were secret meetings between Clovis and Saint Remy, confessor of the wife of Clovis. Soon thereafter an agreement of cooperation was signed between Clovis and the Roman Church. Such an agreement was important because it transformed the less than unified Roman Church to one of supreme power in the West. Clovis became the sword of the Church.

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D. continued

During a battle against the Alamans, he vowed to become a Christian if he was victorious. He won and was baptized by the St. Remy, Bishop of Rheims in 496. On his return he received consular office from the eastern emperor (the had ceased to exist), and he established Paris as his capital. He was named Novus Constantinus-the new Constantine. At his baptism, Saint Remy said, "Sicambrian revere what thou hast burned and burn what thou hast revered." There was now a powerful religion and a powerful Church being administered by a Merovingian bloodline. Clovis allied with Godegisel against the Burgundian King , but the latter survived. Clovis then at- tacked the Visigoths because they were heretics. His last years were spent eliminating rival Frankish leaders. The sister of Clovis, , married the Os- trogothic King Theodoric, and there were further marriages between the Visigoths, Thuringians, Herules and Burgundians, further consolidating the empire of the Franks. The conversion of Clovis to Catholicism made him more acceptable to the Gallo Romans. In 511 he convened an ecclesiastical council in Orleans to discuss matters of newly acquired . When Clovis died in 511, the Frankish kingdom was the most powerful in Gaul.

After Clovis died, his kingdom was divided into 4 parts-one for each of his 4 sons. For more than a century thereafter, the Merovingian Dynasty presided over a number of disparate and warring kingdoms.

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D. continued

Clothair II Clothair II reigned 584-629 and reunited the Kingdom of the Franks. He signed the Perpetual Constitution which was an early Magna Charta. As the Merovingian Kings were concerned with ritual, pomp, and circumstance, the actual administration of the empire was left to the of the Palaces.

Dagobert II In 651 Dagobert II came to power and was a worthy successor to Clovis. He amassed power and authority and great wealth which has been reported to have been located at Rennes le Chateau. He also seemed to lose interest in protecting the Roman Church and expanding it. Dagobert II married a Visigoth princess and further expanded the empire to Languedoc. In doing so he created enemies-both secular and ecclesiastic. His of the Palace, Pepin the Fat aligned himself with enemies of Dagobert II.

Dagobert II had a major capital at Stenay which included a huge forest. On 23 De- cember 679, while resting during a hunt in the forest, a servant under the direction of Pepin the Fat, killed him. He was buried at Stenay, the royal chapel of Saint Remy. In 872, he was made a Saint. For all practical purposes, this ended the real power of the Merovingian Kings. The Mayors of the Palaces de- veloped more and more power.

Charles Martel The most important and an extremely important historical fig- ure was , or Charles the Hammer, who was born 686 and died 741. He expanded his rule over all three Frankish kingdoms: , , and . He was the illegitimate son of Pippin, II and his concubine Alpaida. He won the in 732 which saved Europe from Muslim expansion- ism. He was a brilliant general and is considered the father of western heavy cav- alry. He was the founder of the which was named after him. In 737 King Theuderic died and Martel titled himself Major Domus and Princeps et dux Francorum and did not appoint a new King. The throne was vacant until the death of Martel. He was buried at Saint Denis Basilica. Before his death he divid- ed his properties among his sons. German and French historians have treated Charles Martel with great acclaim and believe that he saved Europe from Islam. He was called the hero of the age and it was said he delivered Christendom.

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D. continued

Usurpation by the First Carolingian King Ten years after the death of Charles Martel, his son Pippin III or Pippin the Younger or Pippin the Short, Mayor of the Palace to King Childeric III, enlisted the support of the Pope in overthrow- ing the Merovingians. Pippin's ambassadors to asked: "Who should be King, the man who actually holds power or he though he is King has no power at all?" The Pope then ordered that by apostolic authority, Pippin III be created King of all the Franks, thus betraying the pact which had been made with Clovis. Pippin deposed Childeric III and had his head shaved and confined him to a . In 740 Pippin III married Bertrada of (Prum). Bertrada de- scended from the Merovingian Kings. In 754 he was anointed at Ponthion. He died in 768 and is buried at St. Denis. Charlemagne Charlemagne was the son of Pippin and Bertrada.

Accomplishments of the Merovingians When Childeric III was deposed, the Merovingians were the longest ruling dynasty in western Europe. , Clovis II, Childeric II, and Dagobert II were very strong rulers. Childebert III operated successively with the aristocracy. The people east of the Rhine were also subject to the Merovingians. Merovingian history provides a focus for understanding the political history of western Europe in the two and half centuries following the deposition of Romulus Augustulus. The Merovingian kingdom had a significant role to play in the transmission of culture from the late Roman period to the Carolingian period. The Rhone valley was a storehouse of manuscripts, without which Benedict Biscop could never have equipped the great monastery of Monkwearmouth/Jarrow in England. The Merovingian Church had a distinguished tradition in ecclesiastical legislation in the 6th and 7th centuries; it witnessed a flowering of monastic tradition. It was an institution heavily involved in politics.

Barbarian Kings, Franks, and Merovingians by Honorary President General COL Charles C. Lucas, Jr. , M.D. continued

Boniface's death at Dokkum can be seen as the last chapter in the Merovingian Church. Some authors such as Fredegar and the author of Annales Mettenses Priores perhaps down played the achieve- ments of the Merovingians, yet to accept such readings is to oversimplify Merovingian history. The Merovingian kingdom boasted no counterpart to Gregory the Great, Isidore, Bede, or Boniface; neverthe- less, no other state equaled the overall achievement of the Franks in the sixth, seventh, and eight centuries.

References: Royalty for Commoners by Roderick W. Stuart, 4th ed., GPC, 2002

Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751 by Ian Wood, Longman, 1994

Les Ancetres De Charlemagne, by Christian Settipani, Occasional Publications Vol. 16, 2014

Articles from Wikipedia Encyclopedia Holy Blood, by Baigent, Leigh, Lincoln, Delta Trade Paperbacks, 2004 Catholic Encyclopedia

Annual Meeting

Yet again, the Order enjoyed capacity attendance at the 2016 OMD Annual Meeting, which was held at the historic City Tavern Club, Wednesday, April 12, 2016. Our speaker was Dr. Kelly DeVries on the topic “The Mer- ovingians, and Christianity.”

The Cornelia “Nellie” Smith Isenhour Memorial Scholarship recipients, Lucas Stephens and Kathryn Morgan , attended the luncheon and were pre- sented their certificates by John Luther Boyter, III, son of Dianne Alley Robinson, founder of the named scholarship (photos below).

President Dianne Alley Robinson and the General Officers of the

Order of the Merovingian Dynasty

Request the pleasure of your company at the Annual Meeting and Luncheon of the Order

on Wednesday, the Nineteenth of April Two Thousand Seventeen at the

City Tavern Club (Courtesy of Mr. Barry C. Howard) 3206 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 (202) 337-8770

Speaker: Dr. C. Brian Rose

2016 Cornelia “Nellie” Smith Isenhour Memorial Scholarships

Lucas Stephens and Kathryn Morgan were the 2016 Winners and were presented their awards by John Luther Boyter, III, son of Dianne Robinson, Founder of the Award.

Charles Brian Rose, Ph.D. 2017 OMD Speaker ~ Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae

C. Brian Rose is James B. Pritchard Professor of Mediterranean Ar- chaeology in the Department of Classical Studies and Curator-in-Charge of the Mediterranean Section of the Penn Museum. From 1987 to 2005 he taught in the Classics Department at the University of Cincinnati, serving as head of the Department from 2002-2005, and as Cedric Boulter Professor of Classical Archaeology. He served as Deputy Director of the Penn Museum between 2008 and 2011.

He received his B.A. from Haverford College in 1978, and his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1987. Since 1988 he has been Head of Post-Bronze Age excavations at Troy, in northwestern Turkey, and Eng- lish language editor of Studia Troica, the annual journal of the Troy excava- tions, of which nineteen volumes have appeared. He has recently completed the final publication of the architecture and architectural decoration of the Roman houses at Troy, as well as the final publication of the Temple of Athena. His synthetic overview of the Troy Excavations, The Archaeology of Greek and Roman Troy, was just published by Cambridge University Press.

Between 2003 and 2007 he directed the Granicus River Valley Survey Project, which focused on recording and mapping the Graeco-Persian tombs that dominate northwestern Tur- key. He is co-director of the Gordion Excavation Project in central Tur- key, where the University of Pennsylvania has been conducting field- work since the 1950's. He recently edited two new Gordion mono- graphs, The New Chronology of Iron Age Gordion, and The Archaeol- ogy of Phrygian Gordion, published by the University Museum Press in 2011 and 2012. His research has also concentrated on the political and artistic relationship between Rome and the provinces (Dynastic Com- memoration and Imperial Portraiture in the Julio-Claudian Period, Cambridge University Press, 1997).

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Research Institute in Turkey, a Trustee of the American Academy in Rome, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Council of American Over- seas Research Centers (CAORC). Between 1994 and 2000 he was an Academic Trustee of the Archaeological Institute of America, then First Vice-President (2002- 2006), and President from 2007-2011.

He has received grants from the National Endow- ment for the Humanities, the Rome Prize of the American Academy in Rome, the Berlin Prize of the American Academy in Berlin, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Amer- ican Research Institute in Turkey, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. In 1994 he re- ceived the Max Planck Prize of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, awarded to him and his collaborator, Manfred Korfmann of the University of Tübingen. In 2012 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Recollections from 2016

Recollections from 2016

Recollections from 2016

OMD Silk Scarf Order Form

Silk Scarf by Marisol Deluna 35” square

Hand-Rolled Edges $100.00 each

Order yours today for delivery as soon as they are received.

Name Address City, State and zip Phone Email Number ordered

Mail check made to “OMD” to: Anna Duff, 3rd Vice President General 132 Laurel Lane Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 3908

Order of the Merovingian Dynasty www.merovingiandynasty.com

Large Neck Medallion for Gentlemen Bow and Tails for Ladies . Miniature Medal

Blazer Patch – Cypher Blazer Patch - Star Recognition/Lapel Pin - Charm

The Order of the Merovingian Dynasty is manufactured in Sterling Silver, (925 parts in 1,000 pure silver), and then 24ct gold plated. (prices for silver and gold are approximate and will vary based on market fluctuations).

The Medal consists of an eight-pointed star, alternating four gold plated fluted rays and four silver bright cut rays. The star rays are bound by a circle of purple vitreous enamel with the title Order of the Merovingian Dynasty. A gold plated Merovingian decorative wreath encloses a white enamel disk, upon which is the title Sanguinarius Regum (Blood of Kings) Symbolism includes period Ea- gles heads and the Royal Bee. The centre disk is in purple enamel and contains the gold plated silver portrait of Childeric, taken from the Ring of Childeric.

The link to view the insignia on the website is http://www.merovingiandynasty.com/Medals.htm

ORDER FORM: _____ Large Neck Medallion for Gentlemen @ $1350 = $ ______Bow and Tails for Ladies @ $1350 = $ ______Miniature Medal S/G @ $ 110 = $ ______Miniature Medal 14K @ Market = $ ______Recognition/Lapel Pin (bronze plate) @ $ 40 = $ ______Recognition/Lapel Pin (sliver-gold plate) @ $ 85 = $ ______Charm (bronze plate) @ $ 40 = $ ______Charm (sliver-gold plate) @ $ 85 = $ ______Blazer Patch-Cipher @ $ 35 = $ ______Blazer Patch-Star @ $ 35 = $ ______

Shipping and handling $ 8.50

TOTAL $ ______

Mail Order to: Email Inquiries: [email protected]

Order the Merovingian Dynasty Karen Elizabeth McClendon, Registrar 1403 Hawthorne Lane Keller, Texas 76262-7308