The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 - 751

List of abbreviations.  Preface.  Introduction: Constructing Merovingian History.  1. The Barbarians in Gaul.  2. Literary continuity anddiscontinuity: Late-fifth-and-sixth-century culture.  3. The establishment of Merovingian power: the Franks before 537.  4. Kings and kingdoms: the structure of the realm in the 6th century.  5. The limites of ecclesiastical power: Episocopal jurisdiction and politics.  6. Stability in disunity: the civil wars of the 6th century.  7. Laws and law-codes: Merovingian legislation.  8. Royal women: Fredegund, ~Brunhilda and Radegund.  9. Redefining the Kingdom: Chlothar II, Dagobert I, Sigibert III and Clovis II.  10. The Merovingians and their neighbours.  11. The place of the monasteries: politics and the religious life, 613-64.  12. Land, wealth and the economy.  13. The failure of consensus: Merovingian politics from 656-80.  14. The culture of churchmen: education, theology and book-production in the later 7th century.  15. The check on ambition: Merovingian politics, 680-721.  16. Towards reunification: wars and politics, 721-751.  17. The Northern Emporia: Quentovic, Dorestad and the `Sceatta' economy.   18. Mission aaccomplished: the Merovingian church east of the Rhine.  Conclusion: The Merovingian achievement.

Of all Rome's western successors, the Frankish kingdom that emerged in France, Belgium, the Rhineland and Switzerland was the longest lasting and most powerful; yet the Merovingians, who ruled it for nearly 300 years (481-751), have been harshly treated by posterity. This is partly through the hostility of the Carolingians who usurped and succeeded them, and partly because of a family history that was lurid and bloody even by contemporary standards. Ian Wood rescues them from the shadows of obscurity and contempt in this superb survey which will be required reading for all early medievalists.

'xxx; the most detailed account of the Merovingian kingdoms available in any language, and the most exciting xxx; this book should be required reading for anyone interested in the early Middle Ages, whether archaeologist or historian.' British Archaeological News