Sources Archaeology Law Codes Histories Roman Records Overall concern over whom texts written for, by and about
Questions of Identity Ethnic Geographical/“National” Kinship Lordship
Kinship Family/clan/tribe as primary tie on loyalty Merovingians Merovech
Kinship Impact of family: Protection - danger of feuds - wergeld Marriage - limited rights of women Inheritance
Lordship (Voluntary Relationship) Swear loyalty in return for protection and plunder Permanent relationship from end 1st c. Classes: Nobles Freemen Freed-men Slaves Warrior nobility supported by others
Justice Popular courts - assemblies of free warriors Compurgation and ordeal Assembled people as witnesses to holy rite
Role of Government Warriors having limited influence on choice of leadership Councils of war as “pep rallies” Limited roles of government: leadership in war, restraint on feuds
Role of Clergy Increasingly influential in civic affairs, esp. bishops: Major leader in diocese Representative of town’s patron saint Director of religious festivals: reinforcing loyalties Some bishops were married
Nobility Warrior nobility living on estates, supported by peasantry
Tacitus: Germania Cornelius Tacitus (c. 55-c. 117) Historian Born in S. Gaul, upper class Studied rhetoric in Rome Held various government positions
Tacitus: Germania Various works, including: Histories Annals De Origine et Situ Germanorum (Germania)
Lex Salica/Pactus Legis Salicae (Law of the Salian Franks) Issued btw. 508 and 511 by Clovis (r. 481-511)