Return to search

Die Nachbenennung bei den Merowingern zwischen familiärem Selbstverständnis und politischer Instrumentalisierung

The Merovingian Practice of Naming after Relatives: Family Traditions and Politics. – The name-giving habits in the Early Middle Ages are often connected with the traditions of a kin group. But the Merovingian example shows the importance of politics: During the course of its existence the Merovingian Frankish Kingdom was often separated into Teilreiche. Their kings were closely related which led to a claim to succeed one another. This is the context of the beginning of the Merovingian naming after relatives. Giving a name which was a popular part of the tradition of another Teilreich was a means to express one’s political claim on said kingdom. It is interesting that Clothar I – the weakest king of his generation – used this instrument most frequently. As did his son Chilperic I who at first also was at a disadvantage compared to his half-brothers. Chilperich even used the name Merowech which shows his ambition to rule the Gesamtreich, at least around Clothar’s I death in 561. Naming after a direct ancestor (especially after the grandfather) was comparatively seldom. Maybe because naming generally did not serve as stabilisation of a family tradition (as in later centuries) but current political concerns. In the 7th century the naming after direct ancestors or relatives prevailed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa.de:bsz:15-qucosa-179605
Date18 September 2015
CreatorsBecher, Matthias
ContributorsUniversität Leipzig, Philologische Fakultät, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Namenforschung e.V.,, Universität Leipzig, Philologische Fakultät, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Namenforschung e.V.,
PublisherUniversitätsbibliothek Leipzig
Source SetsHochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden
Languagedeu
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typedoc-type:article
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceNamenkundliche Informationen; 103/104(2014), S. 43-57

Page generated in 0.0018 seconds