Germanic tribes

The term Germanic tribes (or Teutonic tribes) applies to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe.

Culture

See: Germanic king, Germanic paganism

Related Topics:
Germanic king - Germanic paganism

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The Germanic tribes were each politically independent, under a hereditary king. The kings appear to have claimed descendancy from mythical founders of the tribes, the name of some of which is preserved:

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• Angul — Angles (the Kings of Mercia, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, other Anglo-Saxon dynasties are derived from other descendents of Woden)
• Aurvandil — Vandals (uncertain)
• Burgundus — Burgundians
• Cibidus — Cibidi
• Dan — Danes
• Gothus — Goths
• Ingve — Ynglings
• Irmin — Irminones
• Longobardus — Lombards
• Saxneat — Saxons
• Valagothus — Valagoths

Conversion to Christianity

The Ostrogoths, Visigoths, and Vandals were Christianized while they were still outside the bounds of the Empire; however, they converted to Arianism rather than to orthodox Catholicism, and were soon regarded as heretics. The one great written remnant of the Gothic language is a translation of portions of the Bible made by Ulfilas, the missionary who converted them. The Lombards were not converted until after their entrance into the Empire, but received Christianity from Arian Germanic groups.

Related Topics:
Ostrogoths - Visigoths - Vandals - Christianized - Arianism - Catholicism - Heretics - Gothic language - Bible - Ulfilas - Missionary - Lombards

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The Franks were converted directly from paganism to Catholicism without an intervening time as Arians. Several centuries later, Anglo-Saxon and Frankish missionaries and warriors undertook the conversion of their Saxon neighbours. A key event was the felling of Thor's Oak near Fritzlar by Boniface, apostle of the Germans, in 723. Eventually, the conversion was forced by armed force, successfully completed by Charlemagne, in a series of campaigns (the Saxon Wars), that also brought Saxon lands into the Frankish empire.

Related Topics:
Franks - Paganism - Catholicism - Saxon - Thor's Oak - Fritzlar - Boniface - 723 - Charlemagne - Saxon Wars

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