Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsAlaric in Athens, by Ludwig Thiersch, c. 1881.

• The westward movement of the Huns, 350 onward• The Visigoths• Fritigern, Athanaric, and the Gothic War,

376-382• Battle of Adrianople, 378

• Death of Emperor Valens

• Theodosius’ (r. 379-395) peace with the Visigoths, 382• Theodosius died in 395, succeeded by

son Arcadius in the east (r. 395-408) and Honorius (r. 395-423) in the West• Visigoths occupy Constantinople, 399-400

• Alaric I, r. 395-410

Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsImage of Cerdic, first Saxon king of Wessex, from John Speed, “Saxon Heptarchy,” Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, 1611, Cambridge University Library.

• Crossing of the Rhine and Danube Rivers, 406• Vandals, Alans, and Sueves crossed the

Rhine into Gaul and Spain; Ostrogoths crossed the Danube into Italy

• Britain abandoned, 409/410• Angles and Saxons already present as

Roman auxilia

• Visigoths sack Rome, 410• Visigoths settle in southern Gaul, 418• Vandals conquer North Africa, 429-

439• Vandals sack Rome, 455• Romulus Augustulus, last emperor in

the West, deposed in 476

Germanic migrations into RomeMap from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume I, 3rd edition.

The post-Roman West (aka early medieval Europe)Map from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume I, 3rd edition.

Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsGerman gold pendant with Roman styling, 5th to 6th century, British Museum.• Migration takes place because of a desire to

embrace Roman culture• Latin

• Languages in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Romania all develop from Latin (Romance languages)

• Concepts of kingship• Hereditary kingship• Kings as makers of law

• Christianity• Roman law

• The Burgundian Code, late 5th century• The Salic Code, late 5th/early 6th century• The Laws of Ethelbert, late 6th century

• Classical learning• Preservation of Greek and Roman writings

• Material culture

Germanic Christian art: left—the Adoration of the Magi, Vatican, Rome, 3rd century; right—the Adoration of the Magi, San Martino, Cividale del Friuli, Italy, c. 745.

Germanic copies of Roman weaponry: left—a late Roman heavy cavalry helmet; right—the Sutton Hoo helmet, East Anglia c. 600.

Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsMap from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume I, 3rd edition.

• The Salian Franks and Gaul• Merovingian dynasty, ruled 481-751• Descended from Meroveus, a sea

dragon• Childeric, d. 481• Clovis, r. 481-511

• Battle of Vouille against Visigoths, 507• Conversion to Catholicism• Clovis given titles “Consul” and

“Augustus”• Salic Law code

Childeric’s burial objects: left—signet ring; center—garnet bees;right—associated burial of horses. In Monnaie de Paris.

Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic MigrationsLe dernier des Merovingians, by Evariste-Vital Luminais, 19th century, Musee des beaux-arts, Carcassonne.

• Merovingian dynasty, 481-751• Clovis’ heirs• Theuderic, r. 511-533;

Chlodomer, r. 511-524; Childebert I, r. 511-558; Chlothar I, r. 511-561.• Conquest of Burgundy, 523

• Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks, c. 594• Childeric III, r. 743-751

Baptismal font, Saint Denis cathedral, Paris, 8th century AD.

Merovingian grave and buckles, discovered at Saint-Aubin-des-Champs, France, August 2014.