HIST107 1st Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture i Monasteries ii Martyrdom iii Monks A The Benedictine Rule Outline of Current Lecture I The Frankish Kingdom A Queen Radegund II A Clerical Dynasty A Bishops Current Lecture Two major transformations 1 The Christianization of the Empire 2 The emergence of new Barbarian Kingdoms extreme provincialization Document of Interest Reading the Middle Ages 1 15 Gregory of Tours History Addresses life in the post Roman barbarian world Frankish kingdom Describes a story in which authoritative figures are trying to push Gregory a bishop out of his position They claim that Gregory is accusing Queen Radegund of adultery What do politics look like in the Frankish Kingdom o Things are violent and chaotic o There is a system of justice but a decrease in courts o No standing army no taxes o Bureaucratic systems associated with the Roman Empire are replaced by the personalized leadership of the barbarian kings These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Barbarian warlords having previously dwelled on the outer portions of the Roman Empire declared themselves as kings and rulers developing the new barbarian empires Barbarian kings seemed to somewhat participate in the Roman world The kingdom of the Franks Who are the franks A group of barbarian people existing along the edge of the Roman Empire The leader Clovis began to see himself as a king and basically declared his independence form the Roman order Clovis became a Catholic Christian like the other roman elite eliminating the dividing line between he and them o This Christianity spreads throughout the Frankish Kingdom Clovis had a personalized leadership was not distanced from the people actually went into battle etc Radegund Queen Part of the plunders of war in the conflict between Frankish authority Ends up marrying the king who captured her Clothar She eventually leaves the king to set up a monastery What is the authority associated with her queenship She has a greatness and glory through her faith chastity sanctity and her management of the household She is described as acting almost as a monocha female monk as opposed to a queen She has her greatest influence when she leaves the king s household to found her monastery she performs acts of penitence fasting bodily mutilation which gives her a saintly form of power Her monastery is a charitable institution through which she attains influence by giving people gifts and wisdom Her unique way of enacting power in this barbarian kingdom although vastly contrasting to the role of kings such as Clovis is still equally important and influential The authority of the Bishops episcopal power Bishops become critical in the post Roman barbarian world Image Euphrasian basilica o Signifies how important basilica churches became as a vast amount of money and resources were being dedicated to the creation of such massive institutions A Clerical Dynasty the churches became administrative centers o Bishops had courts administered justice had legislative power o Oversee property o Distribute alms Bishops were major authoritative figures that maintained order If a bishop defies the king what happens Ex Gregory of Tours mentioned above shows signs of defiance o In many cases bishops operated through councils in which they would determine the best course of action o Depends on the authority and power of the king What is left of Roman Cities commonly came to revolve around the power of the church and the bishop dwelled in these administrative centers