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Title: The Dark Ages, Period 1, 476-918
Author: Charles Oman
Release Date: February 29, 2020 [EBook #61536]
Language: English
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PERIODS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY
PERIOD I., 476-918
Periods of European History
General Editor, ARTHUR HASSALL, M.A.,
Student of Christ Church, Oxford.
Crown 8vo. With Maps and Plans.
The object of this series is to present in separate Volumes a comprehensive and trustworthy account of the general
development of European History, and to deal fully and carefully with the more prominent events in each century.
It is believed that no such attempt to place the History of Europe before the English Public has yet been made, and it
is hoped that the Series will form a valuable continuous History of Mediæval and Modern Europe.
Period I.—The Dark Ages. A.D. 476-918. By C. W. C. Oman, M.A., Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. 7s. 6d.
[Already published.
Period II.—The Empire and the Papacy. A.D. 918-1273. By T. F. Tout, M.A., Professor of History at the Owens
College, Victoria University, Manchester. 7s. 6d. [Already published.
Period III.—The Close of the Middle Ages. A.D. 1272-1494. By R. Lodge, M.A., Professor of History at the
University of Glasgow. [In preparation.
Period IV.—Europe in the 16th Century. A.D. 1494-1598. By A. H. Johnson, M.A., Historical Lecturer to
Merton, Trinity, and University Colleges, Oxford. 7s. 6d. [Already published.
Period V.—The Ascendancy of France. A.D. 1598-1715. By H. O. Wakeman, M.A., Fellow of All Souls College,
and Tutor of Keble College, Oxford. 6s. [Already published.
Period VI.—The Balance of Power. A.D. 1715-1789. By A. Hassall, M.A., Student of Christ Church, Oxford. 6s.
[Already published.
Period VII.—Revolutionary Europe. A.D. 1789-1815. By H. Morse Stephens, M.A., Professor of History at
Cornell University, Ithaca, U.S.A. 6s. [Already published.
Period VIII.—Modern Europe. A.D. 1815-1878. By G. W. Prothero, Litt.D., Professor of History at the University
of Edinburgh. [In preparation.
THE DARK AGES
476-918
BY
CHARLES OMAN, M.A., F.S.A.
FELLOW OF ALL SOULS COLLEGE
AND LECTURER AT NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD
AUTHOR OF ‘A HISTORY OF GREECE,’
‘THE ART OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES,’ ETC.
PERIOD I
RIVINGTONS
KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN
LONDON
1898
Third Edition
All rights reserved
AUTHOR’S PREFACE
In spite of the very modest scale on which this book has been written, I trust that it may be of some use to students
of European History. Though there are several excellent monographs in existence dealing with various sections of the
period 476-918, there is no continuous general sketch in English which covers the whole of it. Gibbon’s immortal work
is popularly supposed to do so, but those who have read it most carefully are best aware that it does not. I am not
acquainted with any modern English book where the inquirer can find an account of the Lombard kings, or of the
Mohammedan invasions of Italy and Sicily in the ninth century, or of several other not unimportant chapters in the early
history of Europe. I am in hopes, therefore, that my attempt to cover the whole field between 476 and 918 may not be
entirely useless to the reading public.
I must acknowledge my indebtedness to two living authors, whose works have been of the greatest possible help to
me in dealing with two great sections of this period, Doctor Gustav Richter, whose admirable collection of original
authorities in his Annalen des Fränkischen Reichs makes such an excellent introduction to the study of Merovingian
and Carolingian times, and Professor Bury of Dublin, whose History of the Later Roman Empire has done so much
for the knowledge of East-Roman affairs between 476 and 800. Nor must I omit to express my indebtedness to the
kindly and diligent hands which spent so many summer hours in the laborious task of compiling my index.
A word ought, perhaps, to be added on the vexed question of the spelling of proper names. I have always chosen
the most modern form in speaking of places, but in speaking of individuals I have employed that used by contemporary
authorities, save in the case of a few very well known names, such as Charles, Henry, Gregory, Lewis, where archaism
would savour of pedantry.
Oxford, November 1893.
v
vi
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION
The author has to acknowledge much kind help in the revision of this second edition given him by the Rev. Dr.
Bright, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History; by Mr. C. H. Turner, Fellow of Magdalen College; by the Rev. F. E.
Brightman, of University College; and by the unwearied compiler of the index. They have materially improved the
accuracy of the book by their suggestions.
October 30, 1894.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
PAGE
I.
Odoacer and Theodoric, 476-493,
1
II.
Theodoric King of Italy, 493-526,
19
III.
The Emperors at Constantinople, 476-527,
33
IV.
Chlodovech and the Franks in Gaul, 481-511,
55
V.
Justinian and his Wars, 528-540,
65
VI.
Justinian—(continued), 540-565,
89
VII.
The Earlier Frankish Kings and their Organisation of Gaul, 511-561,
111
VIII.
The Visigoths in Spain, 531-603,
128
IX.
The Successors of Justinian, 565-610,
145
X.
Decline and Decay of the Merovingians, 561-656,
158
XI.
The Lombards in Italy and the Rise of the Papacy, 568-653,
181
XII.
Heraclius and Mohammed, 610-641,
204
XIII.
The Decline and Fall of the Visigoths, A.D. 603-711,
221
XIV.
The Contest of the Eastern Empire and the Caliphate, 641-717,
235
XV.
The History of the Great Mayors of the Palace, 656-720,
256
XVI.
The Lombards and the Papacy, 653-743,
272
XVII.
Charles Martel and his Wars, 720-41,
289
XVIII.
The Iconoclast Emperors—state of the Eastern Empire in the Eighth
Century, 717-802,
300
XIX.
Pippin the Short—Wars of the Franks and Lombards, 741-768,
322
XX.
Charles the Great—early years 768-785—Conquest of Lombardy and
Saxony,
335
XXI.
The later Wars and Conquests of Charles the Great, 785-814,
357
XXII.
Charles the Great and the Empire,
369
XXIII.
Lewis the Pious, 814-840,
383
XXIV.
Disruption of the Frankish Empire—the coming of the Vikings, 840-855,
405
XXV.
The Darkest hour, 855-887. From the Death of Lothair I. to the Deposition
of Charles the Fat,
424
XXVI.
Italy and Sicily in the Ninth Century, 827-924,
446
XXVII.
Germany, 888-918,
468
XXVIII.
The Eastern Empire in the Ninth Century, 802-912,
478
XXIX.
The end of the Ninth Century in Western Europe. Conclusion,
496
Index
519
vii
viii
MAPS
NO.
PAGE
1.
The Perso-Roman Frontier under Justinian,
91
2.
The Frankish Kingdoms in 511,
112
3.
The Frankish Kingdoms in 575,
160
4.
Italy in 590,
189
5.
The Asiatic Themes,
243
6.
Saxony in the Ninth Century,
350
7.
The Partition-Treaty of Verdun, 853,
410
8.
Western Europe in 890,
444
GENEALOGICAL TABLES
1.
The Vandal Kings,
12
2.
The Eastern Emperors, 457-518,
39
3.
The House of the Merovings,
166
4.
The Lombard Kings,
183
5.
The House of Heraclius,
236
6.
The Mayors of the Palace of the House of St. Arnulf,
260
7.
The Descendants of Charles the Great,
413
APPENDIX.
Names and Dates of the Emperors at Constantinople, the Ostrogothic and
Visigothic Kings, the Popes, and the Caliphs,
515-517
