Searching for “National” Identity in the Middle Ages (The Response of a Europeanist)
Ildar H. Garipzanov
Ab Imperio, 3/2001 143 Ildar GARIPZANOV SEARCHING FOR “NATIONAL” IDENTITY IN THE MIDDLE AGES (THE RESPONSE OF A EUROPEANIST) What are the nation and nationhood? hidden forces creating national identity? Is identity a conscious construct chosen by person because of earthly needs or irrational feeling driving an individual against his will? These first questions arising after reading papers Michel Bouchard A. V. Korenevsky. Unfortunately, these left without definite answer. At same time, modern historiography medieval West proposes interpretations which might provide useful background for study “nation” “nationhood” in Russia. The issue can shed light on problem “national” is debated Gothic identity. Goths emerged European horizon fourth fifth centuries. ethnic conglomeration was created migration some German tribes from Eastern Pomerania to territory Ukraine. This mixture migrants with indigenous population now identified as Cherniakhovsky I. Garipzanov, Searching “National” Identity Middle Ages… 144 archaeological culture. Reinhard Wenskus Herwig Wolfram1 argued that appearance creation aristocratic elite, is, royal families century. included just few per cent whole people, imposed their own other groups conquered population. Thus, existed while dynasties were alive. According this theory, nationhood primarily rational political construct, people chose changed “affiliation” easily consciously. On hand, Peter Heather2 strongly argues ‘royal’ interpretation visibly influenced Cassiodorus’ Getica, written at mid-sixth century re-interpreted early history interest Amal dynasty. Heather proves free men carriers “Cherniakhovsky’ period later on, appeared when already Roman lands. consisted about 20-30 . reason why survived through three gave high social status related privileges society, slaves, dependent formally excluded Gothicness. Many tried become ruling group state. Yet disappeared soon military defeat annihilation departure. latter case happened north east Carpathian Mountains. When region lands, former Slavic Heather’s opinion, category simultaneously. example demonstrates Ages very complicated quite different period. That Bouchard’s attempt find earliest traces sense Russian back eleventh seems me too presumptuous. methodology based Adrian Hastings’s late England. English time rather 1 Wenskus. Stammesbildung und Verfassung; das Werden der frühmittelalterlichen gentes. Cologne, 1961; Wolfram. Geschichte Goten. Munich, 1979. influence theory also visible article K. Ronin: Franki, vestgoty, langobardy v VI-VIII vekakh: politicheskie aspekty samosoznaniia // Odissei, 1989. Pp. 6076 2 Heather. Goths. Oxford, 1996. 145 exception Europe. For example, authors spoke France French Higher Ages, we realize not only speaking majority, but such Bretons Gascons languages, customs , tradition. Therefore, “the most Christian nation” language simply ideological the...
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