Fines Imperii: the Marches
Julia M. H. Smith
This chapter offers an inverse picture of the Carolingian polity. The brief survey all frontier regions empire reveals some persistent themes in policy which transcend individuality each peripheral region. In first place, negotiation combined with a readiness to use force prosecute interests always characterised Frankish strategy. Secondly, Carolingians participated common early medieval diplomatic practices receiving, entertaining and dismissing envoys; royal gift-exchange; demanding hostages keep at court; extracting tribute oaths loyalty; welcoming sheltering political exiles from other kingdoms; concluding truces treaties. Thirdly, imperial rhetoric Christian, Latin broke down frontier. nineteenth-century efforts by French Germans appropriate Charlemagne for themselves contributed their respective build historiography nation-state.
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