:Roman Barbarians: The Royal Court and Culture in the Early Medieval West.(Medieval Culture and Society.)
John J. Contreni
Forty years ago, Kenneth Clark could assert confidently that “Civilisation had come through” thanks to Charlemagne (Civilisation: A Personal View [1969], p. 18). An army of scholars since then, chief among them Pierre Riché, has demonstrated how much and Carolingian civilization in general owed the activities achievements earlier centuries. Some have even detected pre-Carolingian age evidence an “Ostrogothic renaissance,” or “Isidorian a “Northumbrian renaissance.” Yitzhak Hen's new book goes over this familiar terrain but focuses special attention on royal courts Ostrogothic King Theodoric (493–526), Vandal Thrasamund (496–523), Frankish Kings Chlothar II (613–629) Dagobert I (629–639), Visigothic Sisebut (611/612–621). Despite different intellectual, religious, political contexts each king kingdom, Hen contends they shared “a common undeclared ideology kingship” bound court culture together (p. 3). “Culture” for purposes analysis means literary written culture, no difficulty documenting high level associated with some cases kings themselves. In respect, brings scholarship up date. Each chapters their respective intellectual cultures are gems can be appreciated own terms as case studies cultural patronage. The book's last chapter, “Postcards from Edge,” continues story right by visiting several eighth-century cusp age. offers these additional more proximate models patronage might inspired Clark's great hero. addition compelling courts, raises larger question about motivation which do not seem able answer. Even without explicit statements intentions, we easily accept minted coins; established networks; fostered trade; equipped, nurtured, retained armed men; sought religious backing comfort. Yet, analyzing requires problematic quest 22), leads multitudinous directions toward piety, self-aggrandizement, emulation, ends, others.
The American Historical Review