An image within a name. . .

Alot of people ask about the names in the Merovingian tales that I weave. Some have a hard time keeping them all strait. I’d like to respond with a short story about my father’s mother. . . .

 My father, who’s ancestral roots lie in Denmark, lost his mother when he was only a few days old to “birthing fever”.

A few worn pictures and tales from the relatives who raised him was all he has ever known of his mother. Dad confessed to me, one time, that he was disappointed in his mother’s name: Gertrude. Reason? The name invoked  an image of akward clumsiness in his mind. . .not beauty or grace, which is how he would prefer to remember his mother. Regardless of the few pictures he possesses from the late 1920’s showing a tall, lean,  neatly dressed woman tending her family and posing for portraits, he could not get passed the name.  If he could only have known the images such a name would have conjured among our tribal ancestors. . . .

Like native Americans the Germanic tribes attributed an exemplar meaning when naming a child. According to Dr. Kees C. Nieuwenhuijsen, the following patterns were applied:

 The Germanic tribal name consisted of two roots. The term for the first part is protothema or prothema, and the second part is the deuterothema.

•  Any root word (see Nieuwenhuijsen’s table of roots) can be used for the first part of the name, for both masculine and feminine names.
• The second part has to be gender specific. 
• The second part of a feminine name can not be a weapon however in the earlier centuries many women had warlike names.
• No rhymes between the first and the second part is allowed.
• The  second part could not start with a vowel.

When choosing a name Parents tried to express characteristics that they hoped for in their child. Early Germanic tribal religions embraced reincarnation. One can wonder if the repetition of the names within the Merovingian dynasty were attributed to the claim of a re-birth within the line.

Some common naming roots:

My paternal grandmother, whom my father and I never knew, was blessed by her parents with a name depiciting a woman holding a spear. . .with power and strength. . .both trusted and beloved. . .Ger-trude.   In my minds eye I now see a fierce goddess, beautiful and proud, brave and formidable. . .a name which a young man could have truely been proud.

Some of the Merovingian names and probable meanings are below. The combined roots have meaning. In your minds eye try conjuring the image along with the name:

Masculine

Feminine

The Age of the Merovingians. . .Europe Without Borders

Imagine the complete collapse of a civilized society. The riverbanks of law, order, and economic stability have been breached. A powerful people burst over the former banks like a raging river in full flood. . .
One fierce Pagan family line emerges as clear leaders in mayhem of Caucasian tribal dominion. . .the Merovingian Line of Kings and the women that they call wife, consort, mother, daughter, sister. . . .
It was a Europe without borders and laid the foundation for those who would someday be defined as leaders of the modern world.

“The time for extracting a lesson from history is ever at hand for those who are wise.”
Demosthenes,
Athenian orator(384-322 BC)

M3 motorway through the Tara-Skryne valley

There is a lot of buzz on the potential loss of ancient sacred archeological sites within the Tara-Kyrne valley as a result of the M3 motorway under construction in Ireland. As an ancient sacred Caucasian tribal spiritual center such a place’s fate is surely larger than the whims of Irish Politicians. . . .

Notibly those folks could learn a lesson or two from our Native American archaeological preservation laws. . .

Map of world population distribution in 1 AD

The world as you have never seen it before: Depicted below is an amazing map of world population distribution in 1 AD.

 © Copyright 2006 SASI Group (University of Sheffield) and Mark Newman (University of Michigan)
More information can be found at worldmapper.org

Liber Historiae Francorum

I am delighted to hold in my hands an out of print version of the Liber Historiae Francorum edited and translated with an Introduction by Bernard S. Bachrach. Although yellowed with age and somewhat brittle, the previous owner obviously took great care with this edition. There is no musty or pre-owned smell that most very old used books often attract. I carefully turn the pages lest I crack the binding and loosen pages from this excellent specimen.

In his introduction, Bachrach purports the original author as a seventh century person who was well-educated and close to the political powers in Neustria and Austrasia. The ancient author pulls no punches on his very opinionated impressions of Gaul’s recent past, including the conclusion of the blood feud between Merovingian Queens Fredegunda and Brunhilda.

On page twelve we already encounter a quote of the author’s outrage when one of the Merovingian Kings desecrates the relics of a saint to obtain a bone fragment — surely which will improve outcomes of victory in conquests with its magical properties.

My new treasure even has a supplemental “errata” insert to correct previously printed errors. . .oh joy!

Surely an author who’s works are still venerated 1300+ years later deserves an Amazon review. . . and so this author shall. After the family dinner on Thanksgiving we are heading to our remote cabin where I will create a well deserved retrospect. Updated Nov.30th: Review is Available now on Amazon.com. . . .