Saturday, November 25, 2016
Hi and I hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving! I spent the day with my husband, my kids and my grandkids. There's no better way to while away the time.
I'm going to begin a series of blogs on the Alemanni and their gods. We'll start today on the general relationship they seemed to have with their deities. I've done a lot of reading on this from many sources. The blogs will be my opinion based on what I've read. I won't bore you with a bunch of citations, but most of my sources are listed in the bibliographies of my books.
The Alemanni seemed to have a relationship with Wotan, Donar, and the other gods that was more of a partnership than that of servant to master. They worshiped the gods and made sacrifices to them, sometimes human according to the Roman historian Tacitus. However, the Germans expected something in return: a victory in battle, a bountiful harvest, health and well-being for the folk. If the god didn't deliver, the Alemanni considered the trust was broken and might offer their worship to someone else.
This reflects the relationship between the chieftains and their followers. The man in charge of a group of warriors expected his men to follow him and protect him in battle. This was not a one way arrangement. The chieftain was expected in turn to demonstrate leadership and courage in battle, provide weapons and armor, and feast his warriors when not campaigning.
Women played an important role in their religion. They were considered to have a special connection to the gods. They could interpret the signs they sent and read the runes. Rituals were presided over by the women as often as the men.
Next week we'll chat about the sources we have for knowing the gods of the Alemanni. Have a great week!
A reminder: Books I and II of The King's Chain series are available on amazon.com.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Hi!
It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I'm getting back into the swing of it. I've been hard at work getting Book II ready for publication.
The Justice of Revenge, Book II of The King's Chain series, is now available on Amazon. The Kindle version will be available soon.
This installment continues the story of the Alemanni, Berand, and his friends and enemies. There are successes and failures, births and deaths, victories and terrible defeats.
I hope you read it, and if you do, I hope you come back here and post a comment. You can also contact me by email: thekingschain@gmail.com.
In the coming weeks, I'll post more info about the Alemanni, the Romans, and their respective societies.
Happy Reading!
It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I'm getting back into the swing of it. I've been hard at work getting Book II ready for publication.
The Justice of Revenge, Book II of The King's Chain series, is now available on Amazon. The Kindle version will be available soon.
This installment continues the story of the Alemanni, Berand, and his friends and enemies. There are successes and failures, births and deaths, victories and terrible defeats.
I hope you read it, and if you do, I hope you come back here and post a comment. You can also contact me by email: thekingschain@gmail.com.
In the coming weeks, I'll post more info about the Alemanni, the Romans, and their respective societies.
Happy Reading!
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Who Did You Say They Are?
The Alemanni, or Alamanni if you prefer the English spelling.
You're wondering why you haven't heard of them if they were such a thorn in Rome's side (and they were). Well, actually you probably have. Their name survives in the French and Spanish words for Germany: Allemagne, and Alemannia, respectively.
The reason they didn't persevere to become a dominant force post ancient times is a little complicated. The Franks became the dominant force in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD. They were ready to step into the political, economical, and social void left by the contracting Roman influence. One of the reasons was they were willing to mold their society on Rome's example. They couldn't reproduce the brilliance of Rome -- the ensuing centuries were called the Dark Ages -- but they managed to hold things together until the Renaissance.
However, the Alemanni were always fiercely independent of Rome. Some of this attitude can be traced back to the treatment they received from the Roman emperor Caracalla at the beginning of the third century AD. He nearly destroyed the tribe through treachery and deceit, and apparently they never forgot or forgave. They even sided with the Huns during their rampage through Europe in the fifth century AD.
As the Franks rose to power they recognized the independent nature of the Alemanni. The Frankish king Clovis subjugated them in battle near the end of the fifth century. They became part of the Frank empire but still under home rule, as it were. When the Alemanni began to agitate for independence in the eighth century, their nobility, over a thousand men, were called to the Frank court, arrested, and executed. Rule over the Alemanni homelands was given to Frankish dukes.
The Alemanni retreated into themselves. Their dialect of German is still spoken, especially in the Black Forest area of Germany and also in Switzerland, Austria, and the Alsace region of France, . They have started to rediscover their proud history. There has been an increase in archaeological digs, and road signs in their traditional homeland are in both German and Alemanni.
The Alemanni, or Alamanni if you prefer the English spelling.
You're wondering why you haven't heard of them if they were such a thorn in Rome's side (and they were). Well, actually you probably have. Their name survives in the French and Spanish words for Germany: Allemagne, and Alemannia, respectively.
The reason they didn't persevere to become a dominant force post ancient times is a little complicated. The Franks became the dominant force in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD. They were ready to step into the political, economical, and social void left by the contracting Roman influence. One of the reasons was they were willing to mold their society on Rome's example. They couldn't reproduce the brilliance of Rome -- the ensuing centuries were called the Dark Ages -- but they managed to hold things together until the Renaissance.
However, the Alemanni were always fiercely independent of Rome. Some of this attitude can be traced back to the treatment they received from the Roman emperor Caracalla at the beginning of the third century AD. He nearly destroyed the tribe through treachery and deceit, and apparently they never forgot or forgave. They even sided with the Huns during their rampage through Europe in the fifth century AD.
As the Franks rose to power they recognized the independent nature of the Alemanni. The Frankish king Clovis subjugated them in battle near the end of the fifth century. They became part of the Frank empire but still under home rule, as it were. When the Alemanni began to agitate for independence in the eighth century, their nobility, over a thousand men, were called to the Frank court, arrested, and executed. Rule over the Alemanni homelands was given to Frankish dukes.
The Alemanni retreated into themselves. Their dialect of German is still spoken, especially in the Black Forest area of Germany and also in Switzerland, Austria, and the Alsace region of France, . They have started to rediscover their proud history. There has been an increase in archaeological digs, and road signs in their traditional homeland are in both German and Alemanni.
Monday, February 1, 2016
There's nothing like being there!
This past fall my husband and I were fortunate enough to visit the area of Germany I have been writing about. What a thrill to stand on the banks of the Rhine, tour ruins of Roman fortifications, and walk through the Black Forest.
We spent one day in Rottenburg am Neckar, a lovely town on the banks of the River Neckar. This is the site of the Fortress Hill and Berand's settlement.
Rottenburg am Neckar
A hilltop overlooking the Black Forest
just east of Baden-Baden
There was too much to absorb in the short 2 weeks were there. We'll just have to go back!
We spent one day in Rottenburg am Neckar, a lovely town on the banks of the River Neckar. This is the site of the Fortress Hill and Berand's settlement.
Rottenburg am Neckar
A hilltop overlooking the Black Forest
just east of Baden-Baden
There was too much to absorb in the short 2 weeks were there. We'll just have to go back!
Monday, January 25, 2016
Illustration: Sword and DaggerThe illustration featuring Berand's sword Wolf-tooth and his gilt-handled dagger also shows a ghosting in of Wotan, the Alemanni's god of war. He was also god of poetry, royalty, knowledge of the runes, and spell-casting. Quite a resume!
Wotan was often imagined as a wanderer wearing a wide-brimmed hat and leaning on a staff. His weapon was a spear named Gungnir. Sometimes he rode a flying, eight-legged horse named Sleipnir between the land of the living and the underworld. His other familiars were two ravens and two wolves that would travel the world and bring the god all the news of his realm. He is shown with one eye. According to Teutonic mythology, he sacrificed his other eye at the Well of Knowledge in exchange for wisdom.
Wotan's name was invoked by warriors before every battle, but he was a fickle deity, sometimes choosing to turn his back on his supplicants and give victory to the enemy.
At the time of my story, Wotan had gained popularity over Tiwas, the original ruler of the pantheon, who was worshiped more in connection with law and order, although he, too, was a god of war.
Wotan gradually lost favor with the Alemanni when they were subdued by the Franks and were converted to Christianity beginning in about the fifth century AD. Wotan continued under the name of Odin with the Vikings and the Scandinavians as late as the twelfth century AD.
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