HIGH AND LOW: TIES OF DEPENDENCE IN THE FRANKISH KINGDOMS
Alice Rio
ABSTRACT Our understanding of ties loyalty and dependence formed at the level Carolingian political elite has been much improved by a great deal excellent recent research. As mutually beneficial relationships freely entered into, they tend to be sharply distinguished from involving members lower echelons society: latter ties, on contrary, are usually seen as result coercion, were long emblematic increasingly oppressive control local lords. Commendation for these less powerful society is thus often tantamount forfeiting free status. Because oppression, legitimate reasons, so strongly emphasised in historical treatments this type relationship, paradoxically little attention given what influence lower-status party may have had proceedings, extent their negotiating ability or range duties benefits involved such agreements. But not all people made same deals: Frankish formularies, an important source evidence regarding arrangements, show complicated situation, indicating that need treated with nuance higher-status relationships.
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