The Merovingians

Send us Fan Mail The episode we talk about the changing world around the Frankish kingdoms. We get our first description of a Slavic state from a Frankish source, and talk about the interesting stories Frankish sources provide about the Lombard court.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about culture. How did cultural products play into the political game in the Frankish kingdoms? How did they affect the upper classes? What kind of works are we even talking about? In a place where politics is so dangerous everything that can be used to increase someone's power or influence will become dangerous as well. L'histoire des Francs et des Mérovingiens podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iw0uxGoZ9pM9ndH76jQHV?si=7e4862d84b114e08

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about the aftermath of Chlothar's victory and consolidation of the Frankish kingdoms. There was once again a single Merovingian in charge, and we will explore how he sought to establish his authority and how the elites of the kingdoms reacted to this new reality.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we finally reach the end of Brunhild's story. She's been a major player in Merovingian politics for decades, but here her story ends as we enter a new period of Merovingian history.

Send us Fan Mail This episode will see the final phase of the conflict between the brother kings, Theudebert II of Austrasia and Theuderic II of Burgundy. Only one can be victorious. Who will come out on top? What will be the consequences for the Frankish kingdoms? What will happen to the loser?

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about a conflict between Queen Brunhild and the popular holy man Columbanus. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this power hungry queen and strict Irish monk didn't get along and they fought to pull King Theuderic in different directions.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we're going to talk about a failed marriage, jealous queens, angry kings, and an international coalition. Plus some Late Antique ethnicities, just for fun.

Send us Fan Mail This episode focusses on discussions of ethnicity and their reality in the Merovingian period. Using Fredegar's discussion of the Frankish Bertoald and the Roman Protadius we'll look at pre-modern concepts of race and how they were used in Merovingian chronicles.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about the conflicts between Chlothar II, king of Neustria, Theudebert II, king of Austrasia, and Theuderic II, king of Burgundy. All three were young, ambitious, and desperately wanted to be the one to unite the Frankish realm.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about Brunhild and her second fall from grace. The conflict between her and the Austrasian court will spark a new period in her life, one that is darker and more controversial.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we dive into Fredegar's work, looking at a few examples from early in his chronicle to compare his style to Gregory's and get a sense of what to expect moving forward.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about Brunhild. One of the most controversial figures, in a period with nothing but controversial figures, we'll take a look at her governing style, some of the attacks against her, and some of her worst actions.

Send us Fan Mail This episode, like the title suggests, is about the death of two Merovingian kings. Specifically Guntram and Childebert II, both very significant rulers. We'll discuss the legacy of Guntram and then delve into what Childebert got up to before his own untimely demise.

Send us Fan Mail Special episode this week, as we celebrate ten thousand downloads! This episode I work my way through the Merovingian family tree and share my hot takes on each of the figures, both ones we've already met and those we've yet to meet.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss the transition from Gregory to Fredegar, as well as some of the controversies and issues with Fredegar's work. Plus we'll meet some of the academics whose work will be important moving forward.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we bid a fond farewell to our friend Gregory, whose histories finally stop around 590-591. We discuss aspects of his life and work and how he would probably like to be remembered. Goodbye Gregory, you've been a fascinating companion.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about faith, power and revelations. As Christianity moved through it's rebellious youth phase the church tried to clamp down on and control the fervour of its many fresh converts. The faith was still fairly fresh outside of the urban areas of Gaul, and this led to conflict as the church hierarchy clashed with insurgent religious figures. Were they possessed by the devil? Were they simply misinformed? Or were they just naturally finding their own revelations?

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about justice, in all its forms from differing perspectives. Justice will come for noble rebels, for Guntram against his enemies in Neustria, and even Fredegund will dip her toe into the waters of justice. It'll be in interesting journey through the restless Frankish nobles and the attempts of Merovingian central authority to keep them in line.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about the trial of Egidius, bishop of Rheims. Egidius was one of the last major figures left that had opposed Brunhild and held influence during Childebert's minority. In this episode we'll see how he tries to defend his actions, and how the trial of a prominent bishop is handled by the young king Childebert II.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we cover a rollercoaster of a military campaign, a concerted effort by our major source to keep tarnishing a queen's reputation and the final end of the revolt of Saint Radegund's Convent of the Holy Cross. Ambition and brutality knows no gender boundaries in the Merovingian period.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is mostly about things going wrong. Diplomacy, war, keeping the peace, the Merovingians prove that they're not necessarily on top of things and their systems are more than a little flawed.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about the revolt in the nunnery of Saint Radegund. With the influential queen gone how will her followers handle her complicated and provocatively legacy? Spoiler alert, poorly.

Send us Fan Mail This week we cover the Conspiracy of Septimima, a curious case of intrigue, propaganda and murky details. We'll discuss the factors and context that muddy the waters around the conspiracy, and ask how much is fact and how much is fiction.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a collection of three stories that Gregory of Tours tells in his Histories. They cover a broad range of topics like war, domestic politics, religious radicalism, female empowerment and murder. Classic stuff from the Merovingians. Enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail This week its all about tax and the economy, as we discuss the changes from the late Roman Empire into its successor kingdoms in the west. And, of course, Gregory will have some stories to demonstrate the changes through his eyes.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about marriage, specifically political marriages in the Merovingian era. The Merovingians had a mixed track record with political marriages, and while they were important tools for diplomacy they also came with risks.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we take a detailed look at the flaws in Merovingian politics that so often led to conflict and violence, and the hard work of the clergy to try calm the constant tension. We've seen Gregory work to prevent violence, but in this episode we discuss the unique circumstances that led to the church being the major diplomatic intermediaries of the period.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we cover some of the events that have been happening in the realm, continuing many of the themes discussed in recent episodes. Then we move onto the Treaty of Andelot, a fascinating primary source that reveals a lot about Merovingian power politics and diplomacy.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about Fredegund and Brunhild, and the vastly different ways their actions in centralizing power into their own hands are treated by Gregory. Plus there's a lot of grisly murders.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we continue our Visigothic theme by discussing Guntram's invasion of Visigothic Septimania. Spoiler alert: it does not go well.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we take a tangent into the Visigothic kingdom as part of our larger exploration of the family of Brunhild and the politics they were involved in. Its the beginning of her rise to political ascendancy, and it has humble but important roots.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we see Guntram, and later the clergy, readjusting to the post-Gundovald political realities. We'll see Guntram continue his charm offensive of moderated tone and a more diplomatic approach, but also see the limits of his new attitude. We'll also see a true masterclass in diplomacy and conflict resolution from the clergy at the Council of Macon.

Send us Fan Mail This episode covers three days of King Guntram's life, as he visits his city of Orléans for the Feast of Saint Martin. While there he deals with rebellious clergy, reveals a bit of his bromance with Gregory and displays openly anti-semitic beliefs. Its a look, in depth, at just three days in the stressful and controversial life of a Merovingian king.

Send us Fan Mail This week we talk about the common folk, or at least as common as possible while still attracting Gregory's attention. That means prophetic wise women, murderous Saxons and feuding local nobility. How does justice function? How do local power structures support themselves and enforce some form of stability on their communities?

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode Connor and I sit down and go through some questions about the Merovingians and the period as a whole. We hope you enjoy the departure from our usual format.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about legal reform and how the most recent Merovingians had been changing the way the monarchy worked. We'll discuss important developments and how they paved the way for the later Merovingian period and beyond.

Send us Fan Mail This episode we discuss whether or not Gundovald's rebellion ever had a chance at success, as well as the fate of the conspirators who had just betrayed him. We will also briefly address the political settlement in the aftermath of the rebellion and what it reveals about the next era of Merovingian politics.

Send us Fan Mail This week, as the title suggests, we'll be talking about the fall of the usurper king Gundovald. We will also discuss the meeting between the estranged kings Childebert II and Guntram.

Send us Fan Mail This episode covers the lead up to the confrontation between Guntram and Gundovald. We'll observe them both tie up some loose ends and ready themselves, and we'll discuss the other players in this game.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about Queen Fredegund and King Guntram's attempts to her and the political situation in Neustria. Unfortunately for him she would prove hard to dislodge from her position and ruthless in her determination.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about those trying to sow discord or strife to weaken King Guntram and his stranglehold on Merovingian power. We'll talk about the conflicts and suffering in Central Gaul as different groups try to instill loyalty, and we'll talk about the failure of diplomacy.

Send us Fan Mail This week we take a look at the problems facing Guntram, the new dominant king in the Merovingian kingdoms. Paranoia of assassination, scheming nobles and the return of the pretender Gundovald all make an appearance, alongside a discussion of Merovingian political legitimacy in the period.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is an in depth look at the aftermath of King Chilperic's assassination. We'll see who benefits the most, will it be the young, ambitious Childebert II or the old King Guntram? On top of this we'll examine the actions of Fredegund and her attempt to survive the transition of power. Newborn son in hand will she protect him, herself, and her position in court?

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about the last days of King Chilperic. One of the most important and best documented Merovingian kings, his life and reign spanned the transition between the early and middle Merovingian periods. Always ambitious, always controversial, highly consequential, this is how he meets his end.

Send us Fan Mail This week we cover a range of topics. We take a look at the interwoven politics of Visigothic Spain and the Frankish kingdoms, we discuss the early campaigns of Childebert II, as well as covering some more of Fredegund's unique brand of politics.

Send us Fan Mail This week we clean up the mess the kings left last week. Three kings, no victors, we cover the peace agreements between the kings and the situations they found themselves in. We also take time to cover the unfortunate end of Leudast, former count of Tours.

Send us Fan Mail This week is all about the aftermath of the return of Gundovald and the immediate civil war that broke out. Not between the three existing kings and Gundovald, oh no. As the title suggests, one usurper arriving on the shore of Gaul is enough to send the tense but stable political situation in Gaul into full on civil war between the three kings.

Send us Fan Mail This week is all about Gundovald, the usurper king. We're going to discuss his origins, revealing the power of Merovingian heritage, and yet another way Merovingian princes could serve as political pawns. Then we'll discuss his time in exile and see how the Eastern Roman empire used exiled royals as political bargaining chips to control the other successor states.

Send us Fan Mail Exactly how is the conflict between Guntram and Chilperic going? This week we catch up with the two senior Merovingians and see how their war has devolved to a smoldering series of minor actions. Are they still in control of this conflict? And what are they hoping to get out of it?

Send us Fan Mail This week is all about gaining and holding the most important asset, land. With a look at Merovingian inheritance we'll begin to understand some of the complexity of Merovingian society as well as gain some context for some events that we've already discussed.