The touch of evil: The politics of corruption in the Frankish kingdoms 450–987

Demetrius Glover, Purdue University

Abstract

The Franks appeared on the borders of the Roman Empire in the third century and assumed control of northern France and Germany after the political collapse of the Roman Empire in the west. The Merovingian dynasty and the Frankish kingdoms flourished and survived longer than the other Germanic successors to the Roman Empire in the west, but the Frankish kingdoms experienced significant turbulence from fighting and intrigue within the dynasty as each generation fought amongst itself and against external enemies. The Carolingian dynasty displaced the Merovingians in the eighth century and vigorously sought to improve and expand Frankish control over the west—culminating in the attainment of the title of Emperor of the Romans by Charlemagne and his descendants. In the ninth century, the Carolingians entered an era of internal conflict and were themselves displaced by new dynasties in the tenth century. Political corruption is often cited as being the source of strife in the Merovingian dynasty and used to explain the decline of the Carolingian Dynasty. This study examines how the major narrative and polemical sources of the Frankish kingdoms differed in their analyses and presentations of political corruption from 450 to 987 and determines the ultimate impact of political corruption on the Frankish kingdoms.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Contreni, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Medieval literature|Medieval history

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