Hi, I’m writing an MA thesis on the various kingdoms that arose after the “fall” of the Western Roman Empire c. 476, and wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of some good primary sources that I could read.
I’m not trying to answer whether or not the “barbarians” caused the fall of the empire, or whether it was already in the process of collapse, but rather that, although they were not Roman in name, the peoples and the kingdoms that arose were really a continuation of Roman traditions and ideals.
I’m currently working my way through Gregory of Tours, Jordanes, and Procopius, but wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the matter?
Much appreciated!
Well there's probably a place for Chronica by Cassiodorus and the letters he wrote on the behalf of Theoderic and Anastasius. There's of course upsides and down sides to using his work him very much being the Roman living in the "barbarian" Italian kingdom of the Ostrogoths and continuing to serve in office there. The downside is its hardly a neutral source given basically so much of his work was written for those Gothic royals. It'd certainly be worth at least reading it if nothing else.
Then if you want to consider Roman legacy via Church institutions Bede might be someone to consider reading given his focus is the church history in post roman britain.
You may also find Paul the Deacon's work on the Lombards interesting although i'm only passingly familiar so I don't really know how well regarded it is. Similarly from what i know of Hydatius's chronicle of the area around where he lived as it documented it passing into the hands of the Suebi but again i'm only passingly familiar with it so i don't really know how academically well regarded it is.
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