Telling off Justinian: Theudebert I, the Epistolae Austrasicae , and communication strategies in sixth‐century Merovingian–Byzantine relations
Andrew Gillett
The death of the powerful Frankish king Theudebert I (r. 533–47) gave rise to a diplomatic imbroglio between courts eastern emperor Justinian, who condemned late king, and Theudebert's son successor Theudebald, aggressively defended his father's memory. This dispute provides two opportunities: first, parse sixth‐century sources into separate political discourses; secondly, examine letters preserved in Gallic letter collection Epistolae Austrasicae , as evidence for creative experimentation with genre letters, expanding functions forcefulness basic media long‐range communication.
Early Medieval Europe