The Role of the Nobility in the Creation of Gallo-Frankish Society In the late fifth and sixth centuries ad by Catrin Mair Lewis Wood, M.Phil. Thesis Submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, October 2001 ,. .. ' ~ ___ "_..J. "•• ;. : J _ .- ..... Contents Table of Contents Contents ........................................................................... ii Abstract ............................................................................ v Acknowledgements ............................................................ vi List of Illustrations ............................................................. vii Abbreviations .................................................................... viii Introduction ...................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 The Sources... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 1.1 Ancient and Contemporary Sources... .................. 8 1.1.1 General Survey................................................ 8 1.1.2 Individual Studies... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 1.1.2.1 Gregory of Tours.............................................. 10 1.1.2.2 Venantius Fortunatus... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... 20 1.1.2.3 The Liber Historiae Francorum and Fredegar......... 25 1.1.2.4 Other Narrative Sources... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 1.1.3 Other Literary Sources... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 1.1.3.1 Law Codes... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 1.1.3.2 Letter Collections. .. 34 1.2 Modern Literature Review................................. 34 Part 1 Gaul. .............................................................. 41 Chapter 2 The Gallo-Roman Background.......................... 43 2.1 Gallic Narrative ................................................. 43 2.1.1 Gaul and the Empire .......................................... 43 2.1.2 Gaul and the Barbarians ..................................... 60 2.2 Institutions. 68 2.2.1 The Civitas..................................................... 68 2.2.2 Christianity...................................................... 76 2.2.3 Monasticism and the Episcopacy... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... 78 2.3 The Leaders of GauL ......................................... 91 2.3.1 Education and Culture ........................................ 95 II Contents Chapter 3 Gallo-Roman Leaders ....................................... 101 3.1 Ausonius of Bordeaux ......................................... 101 3.2 Germanus of Auxerre .......................................... 104 3.3 Sidon ius Apollinaris ....................................... '" 105 3.4 Ruricius of Limoges..................... ..................... 114 3.5 Caesarius of Aries ............................................. 118 Part 2 The Franks ...................................................... 124 Chapter 4 The Frankish Background ............ '" ...... '" .......... 125 4.1 Narrative History ........................ '" ..................... 125 4.1.1 Early 'Franks' .................................................... 126 4.1.2 Franks and Merovingians ..................................... 134 4.2 The Myths of the Franks ...................................... 158 4.3 Frankish Institutions ............................................ 162 4.3.1 The Sixth Century Civitas .................................... 163 4.3.2 The Development of the Frankish Church and the Episcopacy ....................................................... 174 4.3.3 Education ................................................... '" ... 188 4.3.4 Taxation. .. 193 4.3.5 The Army ......................................................... 196 4.3.6 Law Codes ....................................................... 206 Chapter 5 Frankish Leaders ............................................. 210 5.1 The Monarchy ................................................... 210 5.1.1 Gregory's Kings ................................................. 211 5.1.2 Fortunatus' Kings ............................................... 219 5.1.2.1 Sigibert .............. , ............................................. 220 5.1.2.2 Charibert .......................................................... 222 5.1.2.3 Chilperic .......................................................... 224 5.1.2.4 Childebert II ...................................................... 226 5.1.3 Frankish Queens .............. , ................................ 229 5.2 Bishops... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... 240 5.2.1 Bishops and Kings ............................................. 240 5.2.2 Fortunatus' Bishops ............................................ 252 5.2.2.1 Leontius of Bordeaux ........ , ................................ 252 5.2.2.2 Felix of Nantes ............................................. ···· 254 5.2.2.3 Gregory of Tours ..................................... ········ 255 III Contents 5.3 The Secular Nobility ... .................................... .... 258 5.3.1 Fortunatus' Noblemen....................................... 258 5.3.1.1 Lupus ... .......................................................... 258 5.3.1.2 Condan ......... ................................................ ... 260 5.3.1.3 Gogo ... ............................................................ 261 5.3.1.4 Dynamius ......................................................... 263 5.4 Frankish Ethnogenesis ......... ........................... .... 264 Chapter 6 Why were the Franks successful? .. ............... .... 273 Bibliography ... ................................................................... 281 IV Abstract Abstract The aim of this dissertation is to explore the contribution made by the nobility, both Gallo-Roman and Frankish, to the creation of a new society after the collapse of imperial authority in the west, Gallo­ Frankish society. The first chapter of this dissertation is a review of the sources, both ancient and modern, used in the research undertaken for this dissertation. It is important to realise that, while not as numerous as those of other periods, sufficient ancient material survives to make a study such as this valid. Modern issues and debates will be highlighted, including an indication of what led me to this particular thesis. The second chapter outlines the history of Gaul and the barbarians to the middle of the fifth century. It then looks at the institutions that were the backbone of Gallo-Roman society. The third chapter explores the lives of a number of individuals who lived in Gaul during the late third and fourth centuries. They exemplify the challenges that faced the nobility and the ways they found of facing them. Chapter four introduces the Franks as the successors to imperial rule in Gaul. A narrative history is followed by a study of the institutions that they made use of in establishing their power. Chapter five narrows the focus still further and looks at the role that the monarchy and the nobility had to play in the creation of Gallo-Frankish society. It will look at specific examples in order to demonstrate the vital role that the fusion taking place between Gallo-Romans and Franks played in this process. The final chapter, chapter six reaches the conclusion that Gallo­ Frankish society was based on an amalgamation of Gallo-Romans and Franks, an amalgamation that was remarkably peaceful, given the events of the period. v Illustrations List of Illustrations Fig. 1 Gregory of Tours' Family Tree .............................. 11 Fig. 2 The Four Gauls, according to Julius Caesar. ........... 44 Fig. 3 The Three Gauls under the Early Empire ................ 44 Fig. 4 The Civitates of the Three Gauls and their CapitaL ... 69 Fig. 5 Sidonius Apollinaris' Family Tree ........................... 107 Fig. 6 Gaul, 481-482 ................................................... 138 Fig. 7 Gaul, 486-507 ................................................... 139 Fig. 8 Gaul, 511-536 ................................................... 142 Fig. 9 The division of 511 ............................................. 145 Fig. 10 The division of 561 ............................................. 153 Fig. 11 The division of 567 ............................................. 154 Fig. 12 Merovingian Family Tree ..................................... 157 Fig. 13 The northern civitates c.600 ................................. 166 Fig. 14 The southern civitates c.600 ................................ 167 VII Abbreviations Abbreviations Ammianus Res Gestae Augustine Confessions CAH Cambridge Ancient History Cap.Mer. Capitularia Merowingica Carm. Fortunatus, Opera Poetica, Opera Pedestria MGHAA IV Cil Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum CMH Cambridge Medieval History Conc.Gal.1 Concilia Galliae AD 314-506, Corpus Christianorum Conc.Gal.2 Concilia Galliae AD 511-695, Corpus Christianorum DlH Gregorii episcopi Turonensis libri historiarum X MGHSRM I Ep.Aust. Epistulae Austrasicae, MGH Epistolae 3 Eusebius Ecclesiastical History Fredegar Chronicarum, MGH SRM II GC Liber in gloria confessorum, MGH SRM I.ii GM Liber in gloria martyrum, MGH SRM I.ii GP Gallische Prosopographie, Heinzelmann 1982 lHF Liber Historiae Fran corum , MGH SRM II MGH Monumenta Germaniae Historiae AA Auctores Antiquissimi SRM Scriptores Rerum Merovingicarum Pan.lat. Panegyrici Latini Paul History of the Lombards PlRE Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Ruricius Epistulae VIII Abbreviations