The document outlines key events of pre-modern European migrations, focusing on Germanic tribes and their movements from the 4th to 6th centuries. It details significant figures such as Alaric and Clovis, battles fought, and the cultural changes that ensued from these migrations, including the adoption of Roman customs and languages. The piece also highlights the emergence of the Merovingian dynasty and the transformation of political structures in early medieval Europe.

1. Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic Migrations
Alaric 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

2. Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic Migrations
Image 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

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

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

5. Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic Migrations
German 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

6. 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.

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

8. Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic Migrations
Map 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

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

10. Pre-modern European Migrations: Germanic Migrations
Le 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

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

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