Medieval France
(fl. ca. 642). At some point in the mid-7th century in Burgundy, a chronicler, or chroniclers, assembled a group of six historical works, now known together as The Chronicles of Fredegar. The name Fredegar is not found in the medieval manuscripts of this work; it appears first in the 16th century. Historians, however, have kept it as a convenient way to refer to the author, or authors, of this important anonymous source for the history of early-medieval France in the Merovingian period. Fredegar is the most coherent and reliable guide to things Frankish from 591, when Gregory of Tours left off, until 642. A Carolingian continuation of the chronicle is found in some, but not all, of the early manuscripts, and this, too, is an important source for the period up to the first year of Charlemagne’s reign (768).
Scholars have focused most intently upon the sixth chronicle (or the fourth book, depending upon how the work is divided), which is Fredegar’s original account of his own times.
The first five chronicles (or three books) comprise his copying, editing, and interpolating earlier historical works. Fredegar is accurately called a chronicler and not a historian, for though he moves in an orderly chronological fashion his account lacks the comprehensive synthesis of large amounts of material that would elevate him to the company of Bede or Gregory of Tours. His perspective is clearly Burgundian; when he treats matters in that kingdom, he is most detailed and vivid. He also knows a great deal about events in Neustria and Austrasia and, from time to time, adds valuable information concerning Spain, central Europe, and even Byzantium.
Richard A.Gerberding
[See also: HISTORIOGRAPHY]
Krusch, Bruno, ed. “Chronicarum quae dicuntur Fredegarii Scholastici Libri IV cum continuationibus.” In Monumenta Germaniae Historica, scriptores rerum Merovingicarum. Hanover: Hahn, 1888, Vol. 2, pp. 1–193.
Wallace-Hadrill, J.M., ed. and trans. The Fourth Book of the Chronicle of Fredegar with Its Continuations. London: Nelson, 1960.
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