Alamannia, or Alemannia, was the kingdom established and inhabited by the
Alemanni, a
Germanic tribal confederation that had broken through the Roman ''
limes'' in 213.
The Alemanni expanded from the
Main River basin during the 3rd century and raided Roman provinces and settled on the left bank of the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, source ...
River from the 4th century.
Ruled by independent
tribal kings during the 4th and the 5th centuries, Alamannia lost its independence and became a duchy of the
Frankish Empire
Francia, also called the Kingdom of the Franks ( la, Regnum Francorum), Frankish Kingdom, Frankland or Frankish Empire ( la, Imperium Francorum), was the largest post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe. It was ruled by the Franks dur ...
in the 6th century. As the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the accession of Otto I in 962 unt ...
started to form under King
Conrad I of
East Francia (reigning 911 to 918), the territory of Alamannia became the
Duchy of Swabia in 915. Scribes often used the term ''
Suebia
Swabia ; german: Schwaben , colloquially ''Schwabenland'' or ''Ländle''; archaic English also Suabia or Svebia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.
The name is ultimately derived from the medieval Duchy of ...
'' interchangeably with ''Alamannia'' in the 10th to the 12th centuries.
The territory of Alamannia as it existed from the 7th to 9th centuries centred on
Lake Constance and included the
High Rhine, the
Black Forest
The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is ...
and the
Alsace
Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
on either side of the
Upper Rhine
The Upper Rhine (german: Oberrhein ; french: Rhin Supérieur) is the section of the Rhine between Basel in Switzerland and Bingen in Germany, surrounded by the Upper Rhine Plain. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometres 170 to 529 (the sc ...
, the upper
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
River basin as far as the confluence with the
Lech River, with an unclear boundary towards
Burgundy to the south-west in the
Aare River basin (the
Aargau).
Raetia Curiensis, although not part of Alemannia, was ruled by Alemannic counts, and became part of the
Duchy of Swabia since it was established by
Burchard I (Duke of Alemannia from 909 to 911).
The territory corresponds to what is still the area of
Alemannic German in the modern period, French
Alsace
Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
, German
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...
and
Swabia
Swabia ; german: Schwaben , colloquially ''Schwabenland'' or ''Ländle''; archaic English also Suabia or Svebia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.
The name is ultimately derived from the medieval Duchy of ...
,
German-speaking Switzerland and the Austrian
Vorarlberg.
In the area of present-day Switzerland, the Alemannic areal expanded during the High Middle Ages, with the
Walser migration into the Alps, with the
Zähringer and later the influence of
Bern towards
Upper Burgundy, and into
Grisons as lower Raetia came under the rule of the
Werdenberg counts.
Geography
The Alamanni were pushed south from their original area of settlement in the
Main basin and in the 5th and 6th century settled new territory on either side of the Rhine.
Alemannia under Frankish rule later the Duchy of Swabia within the Holy Roman Empire covered a territory that was more or less undisputed during the 7th to 13th centuries, organised into counties or ''pagi''.
In
Swabia
Swabia ; german: Schwaben , colloquially ''Schwabenland'' or ''Ländle''; archaic English also Suabia or Svebia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.
The name is ultimately derived from the medieval Duchy of ...
:
''Hegowe'' (
Hegau
The Hegau is an extinct volcanic landscape in southern Germany extending around the industrial city of Singen (Hohentwiel), between Lake Constance in the east, the Rhine River in the south, the Danube River in the north and the Randen—as the s ...
), between Lake Constance, the upper Danube and the
Swabian Jura. ''Perahtoltaspara'' (
Berchtoldsbaar) in the upper Neckar basin, left of the upper Danube as far as
Ulm, including the
source of the Danube. ''Nekargowe'' (named for the
Neckar, capital
Canstatt).
''Swiggerstal'' (the modern
Ermstal), ''Filiwigawe'' (Filsgau, named for the
Fils), ''Trachgowe'' (
Drachgau, near
Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd (, until 1934: Gmünd; Swabian: ''Gmẽẽd'' or ''Gmend'') is a city in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. With a population of around 60,000, the city is the second largest in the Ostalb district and ...
) and ''Alba'' (
Albuch) between the Neckar and the Danube.
''Duria'' (
Duriagau) between Ulm and Augsburg.
''Albegowe'' (
Allgäu
The Allgäu (Standard German: , also Allgovia) is a region in Swabia in southern Germany. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia, southeastern Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Austria. The region stretches from the pre-alpine lands up to the ...
), ''Keltinstein'' (between Geltnach and
Wertach
Wertach is a small town in the Oberallgäu district, southern Bavaria, (Germany), in the German Alps. It is situated on the river Wertach, southeast of Kempten. The town was the childhood home of the writer W. G. Sebald.
History
Wertach wa ...
) and ''Augestigowe'' (capital
Augsburg
Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ' ...
) along the
Lech forming the border to
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total l ...
. ''Rezia'' (
Ries Ries is the German word for a unit of paper ream, derived from the Arabic word ''rizma''.
The term can refer to:
Geography
* Nördlinger Ries, a large circular depression in western Bavaria, Germany.
* Ries (Graz), a district of the city of G ...
, ultimately from the name of the Roman province of ''
Raetia'') in the Northeastern corner, left of the Danube (capital
Nördlingen
Nördlingen (; Swabian: ''Nearle'' or ''Nearleng'') is a town in the Donau-Ries district, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, with a population of approximately 20,674. It is located approximately east of Stuttgart, and northwest of Munich. It wa ...
).
''Linzgowe'' (
Linzgau) and ''Argungowe'' (named for
Argen River) north of Lake Constance.
''Eritgau'', ''Folcholtespara'' (
Folcholtsbaar), ''Rammegowe'' (
Rammachgau) and ''Illargowe'' (named for the
Iller, capital
Memmingen) on the right side of the Danube.
In
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...
: ''Brisigowe'' (
Breisgau
The Breisgau () is an area in southwest Germany between the Rhine River and the foothills of the Black Forest. Part of the state of Baden-Württemberg, it centers on the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. The district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, ...
) along the Upper Rhine opposite Sundgau, and ''Mortunova'', the later
Ortenau
The Ortenau, originally called Mortenau, is a historic region in the present-day German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the right bank of the river Rhine, stretching from the Upper Rhine Plain to the foothill zone of the Black For ...
, along the Upper Rhine opposite Nordgau. ''Alpegowe'' (
Albgau Alpgau (also ''Albgau'') was a territory of Alemannia and the Duchy of Swabia during the 8th to 12th centuries.
It comprised ...
), centered on
St. Blaise Abbey, Black Forest
Saint Blaise Abbey (german: Kloster Sankt Blasien) was a Benedictine monastery in the village of St. Blasien in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
History 9th–12th centuries
The early history of the abbey is obscure. Its pre ...
.
In modern France (the Alsace): ''Suntgowe'' (
Sundgau
Sundgau ( or ; ) is a geographical territory in the southern Alsace region ( Haut Rhin and Belfort), on the eastern edge of France. The name is derived from Alemannic German ''Sunt- gowe'' ("South shire"), denoting an Alemannic county in the Old ...
) and ''Nordgowe'' (
Nordgau).
In modern Switzerland: ''Augestigowe'' (the territory surrounding
Augst
Augst (Swiss German: ''Augscht'') is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It was known as Augusta Raurica in Roman times.
History
Augst is first mentioned in 615 as ''Augustodunensem praes ...
) and ''Turgowe'' (modern
Thurgau, named for the
Thur;
Zürichgau was detached from Thurgau in the 8th century).
The territory between Alamannia and
Upper Burgundy was known as ''Argowe'' (modern
Aargau, named for the
Aare). The pertinence of this territory to either Alamannia or Upper Burgundy was disputed.
The county of
Raetia Curiensis was absorbed into Alamannia in the early 10th century. It comprised the ''Ringowe'' (
Rheingau, named for the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, source ...
) and ''Retia'' proper.
History
Tribal kingdoms
Originally a loose confederation of unrelated tribes, the Alemanni underwent coalescence or
ethnogenesis
Ethnogenesis (; ) is "the formation and development of an ethnic group".
This can originate by group self-identification or by outside identification.
The term ''ethnogenesis'' was originally a mid-19th century neologism that was later introd ...
during the 3rd century, and were ruled by kings throughout the 4th and 5th centuries until 496, when they were defeated by
Clovis I of the
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools ...
at the
Battle of Tolbiac
The Battle of Tolbiac was fought between the Franks, who were fighting under Clovis I, and the Alamanni, whose leader is not known. The date of the battle has traditionally been given as 496, though other accounts suggest it may either have been ...
.
The Alemanni during the Roman Empire period were divided into a number of cantons or ''
goviae'', each presided by a tribal king. But there appears to have been the custom of the individual kings uniting under the leadership of a single king in military expeditions.
Some kings of the Alemanni of the 4th and 5th centuries are known by name, the first being
Chrocus
Chrocus or Crocus (fl. 260–306 AD) was a leader of the Alamanni in the late 3rd to early 4th centuries. In 260, he led an uprising of the Alamanni against the Roman Empire, traversing the Upper Germanic Limes and advancing as far as Clermont-Fe ...
(died 306), a military leader who organized raids across the limes during the 3rd century.
Chnodomarius (
fl.
''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...
350) supported
Constantius II in the rebellion of
Magnentius.
Chnodomarius was the leader of the Alemannic army in the
battle of Strasbourg in 357.
Macrian
Macrian or Makrian ( la, Macrianus) was the king of the Bucinobantes, an Alemannic tribe, in the late fourth century and the brother of Hariobaudes. Macrian tried to confederate all the north Germanic and Alemannic tribes together against Rome.
A ...
,
Hariobaudes,
Urius,
Ursicinus,
Vadomarius, and
Vestralpus
Vestralpus (german: Vestralp) was an Alemannic petty king of the Bucinobantes in the 4th century. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus reports that Julian crossed the Rhine at Mainz in 359 and concluded peace treaties with the Alemannic ki ...
were Alemannic kings who in 359 made treaties with
Julian the Apostate. Macrian was deposed in an expedition ordered by
Valentinian I in 370.
Macrian appears to have been involved in building a large alliance of Alemannic tribes against Rome, which earned him the title of ''turbarum rex artifex'' ("king and crafter of unrest").
The Romans installed Fraomar as a successor of Marcian, but the
Bucinobantes
The Bucinobantes (German: ''Bucinobanten'') were an Alemannic tribe in the region of the modern city of Mainz on the river Main.
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote that Caesar Julian crossed the river Rhine near Mainz in 359 for n ...
would not accept him and he was expelled and Macrian restored and Valentinian made the
Bucinobantes
The Bucinobantes (German: ''Bucinobanten'') were an Alemannic tribe in the region of the modern city of Mainz on the river Main.
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote that Caesar Julian crossed the river Rhine near Mainz in 359 for n ...
his ''foederati'' in the war against the
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools ...
. Macrian was killed on campaign against the Franks, in an ambush laid by the Frankish king
Mallobaudes
Mallobaudes or Mellobaudes was a 4th-century Frankish king who also held the Roman title of ''comes domesticorum''.
In 354 he was a ''tribunus armaturarum'' in the Roman army in Gaul, where he served under Silvanus, who usurped power in 355. Ma ...
.
Gibuld (fl. 470) is the last known king of the Alemanni. His raid on
Passau is mentioned in the ''vita'' of
Saint Lupus. The name of Gibuld's successor who was defeated at Tolbiac is not known.
Merovingian duchy
After their defeat in 496, the Alemanni bucked the Frankish yoke and put themselves under the protection of
Theodoric the Great of the
Ostrogoths
The Ostrogoths ( la, Ostrogothi, Austrogothi) were a Roman-era Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Gothic kingdoms within the Roman Empire, based upon the large Gothic populations who ...
but after his death they were again subjugated by the Franks under
Theudebert I
Theudebert I (french: Thibert/Théodebert) ( 500 – 547 or 548) was the Merovingian king of Austrasia from 533 to his death in 548. He was the son of Theuderic I and the father of Theudebald.
Sources
Most of what we know about Theudebert comes f ...
in 536. Thereafter, Alamannia was a nominal dukedom within Francia.
Though ruled by their own dukes, it is not likely that they were very often united under one duke in the 6th and 7th centuries. The Alemanni most frequently appear as auxiliaries in expeditions to Italy. The
Duchy of Alsace
The Duchy of Alsace ( la, Ducatus Alsacensi, ''Ducatum Elisatium''; german: Herzogtum Elsaß) was a large political subdivision of the Frankish Empire during the last century and a half of Merovingian rule. It corresponded to the territory of Als ...
was Alemannic, but it was ruled by a line of Frankish dukes and the region around the upper
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
and
Neckar rivers was ruled by the
Ahalolfing family and not by the ducal house which ruled central Alamannia around
Lake Constance.
Rhaetia too, though Alamannic, was ruled by the
Victorids
The Victorids ( Romansh: ''Zaccons'') were a powerful family in Rhaetia during the seventh and eighth centuries, dominating the region politically and controlling the diocese of Chur. The family is termed after the continued use of the name Victor. ...
coterminously with the
Diocese of Chur.
Alamannia was
Christianised
Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...
during the 7th century, although not as thoroughly as either Francia to its west or
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total l ...
to its east. The first Alamannic law code, ''
Pactus Alamannorum The Lex Alamannorum and Pactus Alamannorum were two early medieval law codes of the Alamanni. They were first edited in parts in 1530 by Johannes Sichard in Basel.
Pactus Alamannorum
The ''Pactus Alamannorum'' or ''Pactus legis Alamannorum'' is the ...
'', dates to this period.
The Roman dioceses of
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label= Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label= Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the ...
and
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (B ...
covered Alsace and that of Chur, as mentioned, Rhaetia. Alamannia itself had a diocese only in the east, at
Augsburg
Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ' ...
(early 7th century). There were two Roman bishoprics,
Windisch and
Octodurum
Martigny (; german: Martinach, ; la, Octodurum) is the capital city of the district of Martigny, canton of Valais, Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of , and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants (''Martignerains'' or "Octoduriens ...
, which were moved early to other sites (
Avenches and
Sitten
, neighboring_municipalities= Ayent, Conthey, Grimisuat, Grône, Les Agettes, Nax, Nendaz, Saint-Léonard, Salins, Savièse, Vernamiège, Vex
, twintowns =
Sion (; german: Sitten ; it, Seduno; la, Sedunum) is a Swiss town, a ...
respectively).
Western Alamannia did eventually (7th century) receive a diocese (
Constance) through the cooperation of the bishops of Chur and the
Merovingian
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gaul ...
monarchs. The foundation of Constance is obscure, though it was the largest diocese in Germany throughout the Merovingian and early
Carolingian era. The dioceses of Alamannia, including Chur, which had been a suffragan of the
Archdiocese of Milan, were placed under the jurisdiction of the
Archdiocese of Mainz by the Carolingians.
After the death of
Dagobert I in 638, Alamannia, like Bavaria,
Aquitaine, and
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...
, broke its ties with its Frankish sovereigns and struggled for independence. This was largely successful until the early 8th century, when a series of campaigns waged by the
Arnulfing
The Pippinids and the Arnulfings were two Frankish aristocratic families from Austrasia during the Merovingian period. They dominated the office of mayor of the palace after 687 and eventually supplanted the Merovingians as kings in 751, founding ...
mayors of the palace reduced Alamannia to a province of Francia once again.
It was, however, during this period of ''de facto'' independence that the Alamanni began to be ruled by one duke, though Alsace and Rhaetia remained outside of the scope of Alamannia.
Between 709 and 712,
Pepin of Heristal fought against
Lantfrid, who appears as ''dux'' of the Alamanni, and who committed to writing the second Alamannic law code, the ''
Lex Alamannorum''. In 743,
Pepin the Short and
Carloman waged a campaign to reduce Alamannia and in 746 Carloman began a final thrust to subdue the Alamannic nobility. Several thousand Alamanni noblemen were summarily arrested, tried, and executed for treason at a
Council at Cannstatt.
Carolingian rule
During the reign of
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqu ...
, there were tendencies to renewed independence in Alamannia, and the 830s were marked by bloody feuds between the Alamannic and Rhaetian nobility vying for dominion over the area. Following the
Treaty of Verdun
The Treaty of Verdun (), agreed in , divided the Frankish Empire into three kingdoms among the surviving sons of the emperor Louis I, the son and successor of Charlemagne. The treaty was concluded following almost three years of civil war and ...
of 843, Alamannia became a province of
East Francia, the kingdom of
Louis the German
Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
, the precursor of the
Kingdom of Germany
The Kingdom of Germany or German Kingdom ( la, regnum Teutonicorum "kingdom of the Germans", "German kingdom", "kingdom of Germany") was the mostly Germanic-speaking East Frankish kingdom, which was formed by the Treaty of Verdun in 843, espec ...
. It was called a ''regnum'' in contemporary sources, though this does not necessarily mean that it was a kingdom or subkingdom. At times, however, it was.
It was granted to
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a se ...
in 829, though it is not certain whether he was recognised as duke or king. It was certainly a kingdom, including Alsace and Rhaetia, when it was granted to
Charles the Fat in the division of East Francia in 876. Under Charles, Alamannia became the centre of the Empire, but after his deposition, it found itself out of favour. Though ethnically singular, it was still plagued by Rhaetian-Alamannic feuds and fighting over the control of the Alamannic church.
Alamannia in the late 9th century, like Bavaria,
Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a ...
, and
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper ...
, sought to unite itself under one duke, but it had considerably less success than either Saxony or Bavaria. Alamannia was one of the ''
jüngeres Stammesherzogtum'', one of the "younger" stem duchies, or tribal duchies, which formed the basis of the political organisation of East Francia after the collapse of the Carolingian dynasty in the late 9th and early 10th centuries.
In the 10th century, no noble house of Alamannia succeeded in founding a ducal dynasty, as the
Ottonians did in Saxony or the
Liutpolding in Bavaria, though the
Hunfridings came closest.
The duchy encompassed the area surrounding Lake Constance, the
Black Forest
The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is ...
, and the left and right banks of the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, source ...
, including Alsace and parts of the
Swiss plateau, bordering on
Upper Burgundy. The boundary with Burgundy, fixed in 843, ran along the lower
Aare, turning towards the south at the Rhine, passing west of
Lucerne and across the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
along the upper
Rhône to the
Saint Gotthard Pass. In the north, the boundary ran from the
Murg (some 30 km south of
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...
) to
Heilbronn and the
Nördlinger Ries. The eastern boundary was at the
Lech.
Argovia
Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capita ...
was disputed territory between the dukes of Alamannia and Burgundy.
Burchard II, son of the late Burchard I and count in Raetia Curiensis, took the title of
duke of Swabia, Duke acknowledged by the newly elected king
Henry the Fowler in 919. The
duchy of Swabia was ruled by the
Hohenstaufen
The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, , ), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of unclear origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynas ...
during 1079–1268 and was disestablished with the execution of
Conradin
Conrad III (25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268), called ''the Younger'' or ''the Boy'', but usually known by the diminutive Conradin (german: link=no, Konradin, it, Corradino), was the last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen. He was Duke ...
and its territory was politically fragmented during the succeeding
interregnum period.
Legacy
Alemannic German persists as a separate family of
dialects within
High German.
The distribution of the
Low Alemannic and
High Alemannic subgroups largely correspond to the extent of historical Alemannia, while the
Highest Alemannic dialects spread beyond its limits during the High Middle Ages. The
Brünig-Napf-Reuss line
The Brünig-Napf-Reuss line forms a geographical boundary in traditional Swiss culture ('' Kulturgrenze''). Running from the Brünig Pass along the Napf region to the Reuss (which joins the Aare at Brugg), it partly separates western (Bernese Germa ...
is a cultural boundary within High Alemannic which marks the division of Alemannia proper and the
Argovia
Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capita ...
marches between Alemannia and Burgundy.
The
names for Germany in modern
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
(),
Catalan
Catalan may refer to:
Catalonia
From, or related to Catalonia:
* Catalan language, a Romance language
* Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia
Places
* 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
(''Alemanya''),
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
(''Yr Almaen''),
Cornish (''Almayn''),
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
(''Allemagne''),
Persian (''ألمان''),
Galician-
Portuguese (''Alemanha''),
Spanish (''Alemania''), and
Turkish (''Almanya'') all derive from Alamannia. A similar correspondence exists for "German", both as the language and the adjectival form of "Germany".
List of rulers of Alamannia
Independent kings
The following are the known names of early Alemannic kings. They did not necessarily rule all of Alamannia, but were more likely petty kings ruling over smaller tribes or cantons, e.g.
Macrian
Macrian or Makrian ( la, Macrianus) was the king of the Bucinobantes, an Alemannic tribe, in the late fourth century and the brother of Hariobaudes. Macrian tried to confederate all the north Germanic and Alemannic tribes together against Rome.
A ...
(fl. 370), king of the Alamannic tribe of the
Bucinobantes
The Bucinobantes (German: ''Bucinobanten'') were an Alemannic tribe in the region of the modern city of Mainz on the river Main.
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote that Caesar Julian crossed the river Rhine near Mainz in 359 for n ...
.
*
Chrocus
Chrocus or Crocus (fl. 260–306 AD) was a leader of the Alamanni in the late 3rd to early 4th centuries. In 260, he led an uprising of the Alamanni against the Roman Empire, traversing the Upper Germanic Limes and advancing as far as Clermont-Fe ...
306
*
Mederic (father of Agenarich, brother Chnodomarius)
*
Chnodomarius 350, 357
*
Agenaric (Serapio) 357
*
Suomarius 357, 358
*
Hortarius 357, 359
*
Gundomadus Gundomad ( la, Gundomadus; ? - 357 AD) or Gundomar, was an Alemannic petty king in the area around Breisgau, Germany in the 4th century. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus reports that Gundomad, together with his brother Vadomarius, in 354 c ...
354 (co-regent of
Vadomarius)
* Alemannic kings mentioned by
Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus (occasionally anglicised as Ammian) (born , died 400) was a Roman soldier and historian who wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from antiquity (preceding Procopius). His work, known as the ''Res Gestae ...
:
Vestralpus
Vestralpus (german: Vestralp) was an Alemannic petty king of the Bucinobantes in the 4th century. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus reports that Julian crossed the Rhine at Mainz in 359 and concluded peace treaties with the Alemannic ki ...
,
Urius,
Ursicinus,
Macrian
Macrian or Makrian ( la, Macrianus) was the king of the Bucinobantes, an Alemannic tribe, in the late fourth century and the brother of Hariobaudes. Macrian tried to confederate all the north Germanic and Alemannic tribes together against Rome.
A ...
ius,
Hariobaudes,
Vadomarius.
Julian the Apostate made peace treaties with these kings in 359.
*
Rando Rando may refer to:
*a Germanic short name, from names beginning with the element ''rand'' "shield"
*Rando (king) (4th century), king of the Alemanni
* Rando Ayamine (born 1974), manga artist
* Rando (''YuYu Hakusho''), a fictional character from ...
368
*
Vithicabius
Vithicabius (german: Vithicab) was an Alemannic petty king from 360 to 368. He was a son of Vadomarius, and succeeded his father as king after the latter had been banished to Hispania by emperor Julian. He had grown up in Roman custody. Ammianu ...
360–368
*
Priarius ?–378
*
Gibuld (Gebavult) c. 470
Dukes under Frankish suzerainty
* Butilin 539–554
* Leuthari I, before 552–554
* Haming 539–554
*four dukes in the
Diocese of Avenches
The Bishop of Lausanne (French: ''Évêque de Lausanne'') was a Prince-Bishop of the Holy Roman Empire (since 1011) and the Ordinary of the diocese of Lausanne, Switzerland (Latin: ''Dioecesis Lausannensis'').
Bern secularized the bishopric i ...
548–573:
[According to the ''Chronicon'' of ]Marius of Avenches
Marius Aventicensis or, popularly, Marius of Avenches (532 – 31 December 596) was the Bishop of Aventicum (modern Avenches) from 574, remembered for his terse chronicle. After his death in Lausanne, he was venerated in that city as a saint, ...
. Geuenich, Dieter. ''Geschichte der Alemannen''. Verlag Kohlhammer: Stuttgart, 2004.
** Lantachar d. 548
** Magnachar 555–565
** Vaefar 565–573
** Theodefrid 573
* Leutfred 570–587, deposed by
Childebert II
*
Uncilin 587–607
*
Gunzo {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
:''The article is about the historical figure. For the Japanese magazine, see Gunzo''.
Gunzo (also ''Cunzo'') was a 7th-century duke of the Alamanni under Frankish sovereignty. His residence was at ''villa Iburni ...
613
*
Chrodobert 630
*
Gundoin, Duke of Alsace Gundoin was the first Duke of Alsace in the middle of the seventh century. He was a Frankish nobleman from the Meuse-Moselle basin. He was, according to the author of the ''Vita Sadalbergae'', an "illustrious man (''vir inluster''), opulent in wealt ...
, ''fl''. 630s
*
Leuthari II Leutharis, Leuthari, Leuthard, or Leutharius II (fl. c. 643) was the Duke of Alamannia in the early seventh century.
Leuthari murdered Otto, the mayor of the palace of Austrasia, in 643. By doing so he made Grimoald I the mayor of the palace for S ...
642
*
Boniface, Duke of Alsace Bonifacius, often shorteened to Boniface, was the second Duke of Alsace, in the mid 7th century. He is an obscure figure and his background is unknown, but charter evidence and onomastics make him a relative of the families of Gundoin and Wulfoald ...
, until ''c''. 662
*
Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, ''c''. 662–after 683
*
Adalbert, Duke of Alsace Adalbert (died 723) was the Duke of Alsace beginning after 683 and probably until his death. He was the second duke of the family of the Etichonids and the first to inherit the duchy from his father.
The son of Adalrich and Berswinda, Adalbert was ...
, after 683–723
*
Gotfrid until 709
*
Willehari 709–712 (in
Ortenau
The Ortenau, originally called Mortenau, is a historic region in the present-day German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the right bank of the river Rhine, stretching from the Upper Rhine Plain to the foothill zone of the Black For ...
)
*
Lantfrid 709–730
*
Theudebald 709–744
*
Liutfrid, Duke of Alsace, 723–after 742
Carolingians
The Alemanni were under direct Carolingian rule during 746 (
Council of Cannstatt) to 892.
Intermittently, junior members of the Carolingian dynasties were appointed ''regulus'' or ''subregulus'' of Alemannia while at other times,
Alemannia was under the direct administration of the Carolingian kings (after 843 kings of
East Francia).
*
Childeric III (King of the Franks 743–751)
**
Carloman 744–747
**
Drogo 747–748
*
Pepin the Short 748–768 (King of the Franks 751–768)
*
Carloman I (King of the Franks 768–771)
*
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
(King of the Franks 768–814)
**
Hnabi Ahalolfing, grandson of
Gotfrid, is mentioned as an Alamannic duke during the reign of Charlemagne
*
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqu ...
(King of the Franks 814–840)
*
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a se ...
829–840 (King of the Franks 840–843, King of West Francia 843–877)
*
Louis the German
Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
843–864 (King of Bavaria 817–843, King of East Francia 843–876)
*
Charles the Fat 864–880 (King of West Francia 884–887)
**
Hugh, Duke of Alsace Hugh or Hugo (before 855 – 895) was an illegitimate son of Lothair II, king of Lotharingia, by his concubine Waldrada. His father made him Duke of Alsace in 867.
Hugh's name was not a Carolingian royal name, but it was common among the Etichonid ...
867–885
*
Louis the Younger 880–882 (King of Bavaria 880-882)
*
Arnulf of Carinthia (King of East Francia 887–899)
**
Charles the Fat 882–888 (King of West Francia 884–887)
**
Bernard 888–892
*
Louis the Child (King of East Francia 889–911)
**
Burchard I Hunfriding 909–911
From the later 8th century, Alemannic dynasties were able to establish themselves once again.
Variously called counts, or margraves, or dukes, these native dynasties during the later years of Carolingian rule managed to establish themselves as de facto independent, establishing the "
younger stem duchy" of Alemannia/Swabia by the early 10th century.
The rivalry between the
Hunfridings and
Ahalolfings was decided in favour of
Burchard II Hunfriding in the
Battle of Winterthur
The Battle of Winterthur (27 May 1799) was an important action between elements of the Army of the Danube and elements of the House of Habsburg, Habsburg army, commanded by Friedrich Freiherr von Hotze, during the War of the Second Coalition, p ...
of 919.
See also
*
List of Alamannic pagi
*''
Lex Alamannorum''
*''
Annales Alamannici''
*
Early history of Switzerland
*
Alemannic German
References
*
Reuter, Timothy. ''Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056''. New York: Longman, 1991.
{{Early Germanic Kingdoms
Alemanni
States and territories established in the 3rd century
States and territories disestablished in the 910s
Ancient Switzerland
Medieval Switzerland
Duchy of Swabia
213 establishments
911 disestablishments
Barbarian kingdoms