pre-modern european migrations the germans part 2 - by dr. lizabeth johnson
TRANSCRIPT
Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsAlaric in Athens, by Ludwig Thiersch, c. 1881.
• The westward movement of the Huns, 350 onward• The Visigoths• Fritigern, Athanaric, and the Gothic War,
376-382• Battle of Adrianople, 378
• Death of Emperor Valens
• Theodosius’ (r. 379-395) peace with the Visigoths, 382• Theodosius died in 395, succeeded by
son Arcadius in the east (r. 395-408) and Honorius (r. 395-423) in the West• Visigoths occupy Constantinople, 399-400
• Alaric I, r. 395-410
Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsImage of Cerdic, first Saxon king of Wessex, from John Speed, “Saxon Heptarchy,” Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, 1611, Cambridge University Library.
• Crossing of the Rhine and Danube Rivers, 406• Vandals, Alans, and Sueves crossed the
Rhine into Gaul and Spain; Ostrogoths crossed the Danube into Italy
• Britain abandoned, 409/410• Angles and Saxons already present as
Roman auxilia
• Visigoths sack Rome, 410• Visigoths settle in southern Gaul, 418• Vandals conquer North Africa, 429-
439• Vandals sack Rome, 455• Romulus Augustulus, last emperor in
the West, deposed in 476
The post-Roman West (aka early medieval Europe)Map from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume I, 3rd edition.
Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsGerman gold pendant with Roman styling, 5th to 6th century, British Museum.• Migration takes place because of a desire to
embrace Roman culture• Latin
• Languages in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Romania all develop from Latin (Romance languages)
• Concepts of kingship• Hereditary kingship• Kings as makers of law
• Christianity• Roman law
• The Burgundian Code, late 5th century• The Salic Code, late 5th/early 6th century• The Laws of Ethelbert, late 6th century
• Classical learning• Preservation of Greek and Roman writings
• Material culture
Germanic Christian art: left—the Adoration of the Magi, Vatican, Rome, 3rd century; right—the Adoration of the Magi, San Martino, Cividale del Friuli, Italy, c. 745.
Germanic copies of Roman weaponry: left—a late Roman heavy cavalry helmet; right—the Sutton Hoo helmet, East Anglia c. 600.
Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsMap from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume I, 3rd edition.
• The Salian Franks and Gaul• Merovingian dynasty, ruled 481-751• Descended from Meroveus, a sea
dragon• Childeric, d. 481• Clovis, r. 481-511
• Battle of Vouille against Visigoths, 507• Conversion to Catholicism• Clovis given titles “Consul” and
“Augustus”• Salic Law code
Childeric’s burial objects: left—signet ring; center—garnet bees;right—associated burial of horses. In Monnaie de Paris.
Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsLe dernier des Merovingians, by Evariste-Vital Luminais, 19th century, Musee des beaux-arts, Carcassonne.
• Merovingian dynasty, 481-751• Clovis’ heirs• Theuderic, r. 511-533;
Chlodomer, r. 511-524; Childebert I, r. 511-558; Chlothar I, r. 511-561.• Conquest of Burgundy, 523
• Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, c. 594• Childeric III, r. 743-751