Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Trojans, sea-monsters, and long-haired kings: from Priam to Childeric; 2. Capud victuriarum vestrarum Chlodovechus; 3. Taedit me memorare: the middle Merovingians; 4. Omni ecclesiastica dignitate nobilitavit: 'Good King Dagobert'; 5. Regibus solo nomine regnantibus: the Late Merovingians; Conclusions; Bibliography; Index.

Promotional Information

Examines how the story of the first royal Frankish dynasty was shaped across a millennium of historical writing.

About the Author

Yaniv Fox is Associate Professor of History at Bar-Ilan University. He is the organizer of the 2021–2022 Israel Institute for Advanced Studies research group 'Purity and Pollution in Late Antique and Early Medieval Culture and Society' and the author of Power and Religion in Merovingian Gaul: Columbanian Monasticism and the Frankish Elites (2014).

Reviews

'Demonstrating that the most foundational post-Roman dynasty also had the best stories to be retold, Yaniv Fox's sensitive reading of well and less known narratives explains the Merovingians' continuous appeal and relevance for later writers, thereby questioning commonly-held assumptions on this period and the inspiration to look at it with new eyes.' Stefan Esders, Freie Universität Berlin

'The Merovingian period was a formative stage in the history and historiography of Western Europe, and as such it served as a reference point for many a generation to come. In his thought-provoking and lucid book, Yaniv Fox presents a dazzling panorama of insights into the ways the Merovingians and their history were used and abused by medieval and early modern chroniclers, propagandists, and Humanists.' Yitzhak Hen, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

'This original and captivating study sheds light on the manifold ways in which historical writing in the Middle Ages engaged with the earliest history of what became the kingdom of France. The intelligent structure of the book ensures a fascinating and entertaining read.' Rob Meens, Utrecht University

'… full of interesting suggestions and well-presented arguments, backed by the author's wide-ranging expertise and an impressive bibliography.' Roger Collins, Francia-Recensio

'This is a fascinating contribution to the burgeoning scholarly study of the historiography of early medieval Europe generally and to the Frankish Kingdom specifically … Recommended.' G. I. Halfond, CHOICE