Germanic tribes, 750 BC – 768 AD History of Germany

1 germanic tribes, 750 bc – 768 ad

1.1 migration , conquest
1.2 stem duchies , marches
1.3 frankish empire

germanic tribes, 750 bc – 768 ad
migration , conquest

the limes germanicus of roman empire , modern boundaries.





the expansion of germanic tribes 750 bc – ad 1 (after penguin atlas of world history 1988):

the ethnogenesis of germanic tribes assumed have occurred during nordic bronze age, or @ latest during pre-roman iron age. homes in southern scandinavia , northern germany tribes began expanding south, east , west in 1st century bc, coming contact celtic tribes of gaul, iranian, baltic, , slavic cultures in central/eastern europe.

researchers know few details of germanic activity, except through tribes recorded interactions roman empire, through etymological research , archaeological finds.

in first years of 1st century ad roman legions conducted long campaign in germania, area north of upper danube , east of rhine, in attempt expand empire s frontiers , shorten frontier line. rome subdued several germanic tribes, such cherusci. tribes became familiar roman tactics of warfare while maintaining tribal identity. in 9 ad cherusci chieftain known romans arminius defeated roman army in battle of teutoburg forest, victory credited stopping roman advance germanic territories , marking beginning of recorded german history. part of territory of modern germany lay east of rhine remained outside roman empire. ad 100, time of tacitus s germania, germanic tribes had settled along roman frontier along rhine , danube (the limes germanicus), occupying of area of modern germany; however, imperial rome organised territory later included in modern states of austria, baden-württemberg, southern bavaria, southern hesse, saarland , rhineland roman provinces (noricum, raetia, , germania). roman provinces in western germany, germania inferior (with capital situated @ colonia claudia ara agrippinensium, modern cologne) , germania superior (with capital @ mogontiacum, modern mainz), formally established in 85 ad, after long period of military occupation beginning in reign of roman emperor augustus (27 bc - 14 ad).

the 3rd century saw emergence of number of large west germanic tribes: alamanni, franks, bavarii, chatti, saxons, frisii, sicambri, , thuringii. around 260 germanic peoples broke through limes , danube frontier roman-controlled lands.

fresco dionysian scenes roman villa of cologne, germany (site of ancient city colonia claudia ara agrippinensium), 3rd century ad, romano-germanic museum



the porta nigra of trier, capital of roman province of gallia belgica, constructed between 186 , 200 ad

seven large german-speaking tribes – visigoths, ostrogoths, vandals, burgundians, lombards, saxons , franks – moved west , witnessed decline of roman empire , transformation of old western roman empire.

christianity spread western germany during roman era, , christian religious structures such aula palatina of trier built during reign of constantine (r. (306-337 ad). @ end of 4th century huns invaded unoccupied part of present-day germany , migration period began. hunnic hegemony on germania lasted until death of attila s son dengizich in 469.

stem duchies , marches

stem duchies (tribal duchies) in germany originated areas of germanic tribes of given region. concept of such duchies survived in areas in mid-9th century become part of east francia (for example: bavaria, swabia, saxony, franconia, thuringia) rather further west in middle francia (for example: burgundy, lorraine ).

in 5th century, völkerwanderung (or germanic migrations) brought number of barbarian tribes failing roman empire. tribes became stem duchies alamanni, thuringii, saxons, franks, burgundians, , rugii. in contrast later duchies, these entities did not have strictly delineated administrative boundaries, approximated area of settlement of major germanic tribes. on next few centuries, tribes warred, migrated, , merged. franks subjugated these tribes in germania. however, remnants of several stem duchies survive today states or regions in modern western europe countries: german states such bavaria , saxony, german regions swabia, , french régions such of burgundy/franche-comté , lorraine.

in east, successive rulers of german lands founded series of border counties or marches. north, these included lusatia, north march (which become brandenburg , heart of future prussia), , billung march. in south, marches included carniola, styria, , march of austria become austria.

frankish empire


expansion of frankish empire:

blue = realm of pippin iii in 758,

red = expansion under charlemagne until 814,

yellow = marches , dependencies

after fall of western roman empire in 5th century, franks, other post-roman western europe, emerged tribal confederacy in rhine-weser region referred austrasia, franconia. absorbed former roman territory spread west gaul beginning in 250, unlike alamanni south in swabia. 500, frankish king clovis i, of merovingian dynasty, had united frankish tribes , ruled of gaul, , proclaimed king time 509 511. clovis also, contrary tradition of germanic rulers of time, baptized directly roman catholicism , not arianism, , successors work closely papal missionaries, among them saint boniface. faith of franks, vast size of francia, , franks control of passes through alps led alliance between merovingian realm, 750 extended gaul , north-western germany include swabia, burgundy (and western switzerland extension), pope in rome against lombards, whom posed greatest threat holy see. papal envoy sent charles martel, mayor of palace, in 732 following victory @ battle of tours, though alliance lapse charles death , renewed after frankish civil war.

the merovingian kings of germanic franks conquered northern gaul in 486 ad. swabia became duchy under frankish empire in 496, following battle of tolbiac; in 530 saxons , franks destroyed kingdom of thuringia. in 5th , 6th centuries merovingian kings conquered several other germanic tribes , kingdoms. king chlothar (reigned 558–561) ruled greater part of germany , made expeditions saxony, while southeast of modern germany remained under influence of ostrogoths. saxons inhabited area down unstrut river.

the merovingians placed various regions of frankish empire under control of semi-autonomous dukes - franks or local rulers. frankish colonists encouraged move newly conquered territories. while allowed preserve own laws, local germanic tribes faced pressure adopt non-arian christianity.

the territories later become parts of modern germany came under region of austrasia (meaning eastern land ), northeastern portion of kingdom of merovingian franks. whole, austrasia comprised parts of present-day france, germany, belgium, luxembourg , netherlands. after death of frankish king clovis in 511, 4 sons partitioned kingdom including austrasia. authority on austrasia passed , forth autonomy royal subjugation, successive merovingian kings alternately united , subdivided frankish lands.

in 718 charles martel, frankish mayor of palace, made war against saxony because of neustrians. son carloman started new war against saxony in 743, because saxons gave aid duke odilo of bavaria.

in 751 pippin iii, mayor of palace under merovingian king, himself assumed title of king , anointed church. frankish kings set protectors of pope, , charles great (who ruled franks 774 814) launched decades-long military campaign against franks heathen rivals, saxons , avars. campaigns , insurrections of saxon wars lasted 772 804. franks overwhelmed saxons , avars, forcibly converted people christianity, , annexed lands carolingian empire.