Late Merovingian France: History and Hagiography, 640-720 by Paul Fouracre and Richard A. Gerberding
Thomas Head
book reviews759 marginal place within society, Latin Christianity is the sole beUef system extensively treated (the title's inclusive "religion" misleads). Even this exclusive focus overlooks varieties ofreligious expressions Church. For a scholar who chaUenges so many prevalent views, Hen accepts too readUy opinion that scarcity of living holy people marked era. Hermits, widows, practitioners oísecreta conversio, pauperes on church's matricula, and other lay cluttered religious landscape Merovingian Gaul are not represented. society itseUis generically presented.WhUe specific entertainments admirably discussed, individual social groups overlooked . Their absence noticeable. After aU, sources say more about poor than they do backgammon. Certainly any investigation into past wUl be hindered by nature evidence. But evidence much richer what Hen's study shows. John Kitchen Toronto, Ontario Late France: History Hagiography, 640-720. By Paul Fouracre Richard A. Gerberding. [Manchester Medieval Sources Series .] (Manchester: Manchester University Press. Distributed St. Martin's Press, Scholarly Reference Division, NewYork. 1996. Pp. xi, 397. $69-95 clothbound; $24.95 paperback.) This splendid volume provides an important addition to general studies translated from era which have appeared over last decade such Anglophone scholars as Patrick Geary,Judith George, Edward James, JoAnn McNamara, Raymond Van Dam, Ian Wood. Alongside impressive body continental, largely German, scholarship, these works significantly altered our view kingdoms, showing how vibrantly Roman poUtical forms survived under Frankish kings. Gerberding now cogently completed rehabUitation roisfainéants—those ruled death Dagobert through Chilperic II.They appear their own terms in words carefuUy contemporary sources, rather those Carolingian propagandists , or Gibbonesque narrative decline faU, hazy notions Germanic ethnic identity.Their reigns emerge period complex intense syncretism led empire Romans Carolingians The simply source coUection, but effect comprehensive reconsideration ofthese seventy years ofFrankish history, albeit one surprise readers of, for example, Wood's Kingdoms 450- 751 (London, 1994).The begins with lengthy introduction editors present concise political history period, then consider problems presented hagiography 760book reviews finaUy discuss use kingdoms particularly.The consists eight sources.The bookends historical works, selections Liber Historiae Francorum, laconic positively inclined Merovingians (which early analyzed excellent monograph ), Annales Mettenses Priores, piece propaganda. In between six hagiographie concerning Uves two queens four bishops: Balthild,Audoin,Aunemund, Leudegar, Praejectus Geretrud.Together constitute roughly one-haU composed period. Each preceded commentary. CoUectively introductions provide thorough examination good number ofthe -which will invaluable scholars. They make convincing case, Acta Aunemundi, although tenth century, preserves authentic seventh-century traditions. commentary substantial: 370 pages text volume, less 150 occupied translations. scholarship found editors' revisionist at its most sensible compelling: solidly based using interpretative imagination, supplemented modern theoretical techniques deconstruction (explicitly discussed editors) anthropology (implicitly discussion conflict resolution famUy alUances).The ofhagiography particular masterful condensation debate several clear pages. My only critique the...
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