Gregory of Tours History and Society in the Sixth Century [Paperback]

A new interpretation of the Ten Books of History of Gregory of Tours (538594), first published in 2001.For 1400 years Gregory's Histories--the principal work of Merovingian history--have been understood as a history of the Franks and as an objective portrayal of history, albeit told by a naive narrator. This completely new interpretation of the Histories reveals connections between apparently unconnected, adjacent chapters, and also begins to make out their real function. Gregory (538-594) can be seen as focusing on the development of a socio-political concept of society, which anticipates the leadership of the Christian state entrusted to the joint government of bishops and king.For 1400 years Gregory's Histories--the principal work of Merovingian history--have been understood as a history of the Franks and as an objective portrayal of history, albeit told by a naive narrator. This completely new interpretation of the Histories reveals connections between apparently unconnected, adjacent chapters, and also begins to make out their real function. Gregory (538-594) can be seen as focusing on the development of a socio-political concept of society, which anticipates the leadership of the Christian state entrusted to the joint government of bishops and king.For 1400 years Gregory's Histories--the principal work of Merovingian history--have been understood as a history of the Franks and as an objective portrayal of history, albeit told by a naive narrator. This completely new interpretation of the Histories reveals connections between apparently unconnected, adjacent chapters, and also begins to make out their real function. Gregory (538-594) can be seen as focusing on the development of a socio-political concept of society, which anticipates the leadership of the Christian state entrusted to the joint government of bishops and king.List of figures; Preface; List of abbreviations; Introduction: the state of research into Gregory of Tours in 1992; 1. Gregory of Tol“7