The Austrasian Letters () is a collection of 48 Latin letters sent from or to Austrasia between the 470s and 590s. The collection is transmitted in a single 9th-century manuscript from the Abbey of Lorsch.
The collection was probably assembled in Metz in the late 6th century. It has been attributed to Bishop Magneric of Trier, who was a counsellor of King Childebert II in the 580s. It is generally thought that the compilation was made for the use of the Austrasian chancery. Recently, however, it has been argued that the compilation was only brought together in the early 9th century at Lorsch.
The letters give insight into the workings of Frankish diplomacy and life at the Austrasian court. The letters give insights into the literacy of the kings' inner circle, along with snippets of information not supplied by other sources of the period. They provide more contemporary evidence for the reign of Clovis I than any other source. The letters are particularly useful in illuminating the complex diplomatic relations between Austrasia and the Byzantine Empire. A majority of the letters concern this relationship.
Table of letters NumberSenderNames of senders and addressees are drawn from the table in .AddresseeDateDates are mainly those of drawn from the table in ; alternative dates in footnotes. Question marks indicate uncertainty.Notes1Remigius of ReimsClovis Ic.509?2Remigius of ReimsClovis I482/33Remigius of ReimsHeraclius, Leo and Theodosius5124Remigius of ReimsFalco of Tongresc.511?–5335FlorianusNicetius of Trier543/5526FlorianusNicetius of Trierc.5507Nicetius of TrierJustinian Ic.550–5538Nicetius of TrierChlodosuinth561/5679Germanus of ParisBrunhild57510Aurelian of ArlesTheudebert Ic.534 or 546–54811Mapinius of ReimsNicetius of Trierc.550Only known source for the Council of Toul (550).12Dynamius of ProvenceChamingabout or before 580?13GogoChamingc.561?14Venantius FortunatusMagneric of Trierc.566/58515Mapinius of ReimsVilicus of Metzc.542/54916GogoTraseric of Toulc.565–before 58117Dynamius of ProvenceVilicus of Metz561–56818TheudebaldJustinian I548/919Theudebert IJustinian I536–53820Theudebert IJustinian I540–54521Rufus of MartignyNicetius of Trierc.55022GogoPeter of Metzafter 56823Auspicius of ToulArbogast of Trierc.472–47424unknownNicetius of Trier56125Childebert IIMaurice587–588 These letters pertain to the embassy sent to the Byzantine Empire in late 587 or early 588., citing .26BrunhildMaurice587–58827BrunhildAthanagild587–58828Childbert IAthanagild587–58829BrunhildAnastasia587–58830BrunhildAnastasia587–58831Childebert IIJohn IV of Constantinople587–58832Childebert IIHonoratus the Apocrisarius587–58833Childebert IIDomitian of Melitene587–58834Childebert IITheodore the Magister587–58835Childebert IIJohn the Quaestor587–58836Childebert IIMegas the Curator587–58837Childebert IIPaul587–58838Childebert IIItalica the Patrician587–58839Childebert IIVenantius the Patrician587–58840Romanus (?)Childebert II59041RomanusChildebert II59042MauriceChildebert II585?43FortunatusTheodosius585 These letters pertain to the embassy sent to the Byzantine Empire in 585–586 with the possible exception of no. 46, which more likely pertains to that of 589.44BrunhildAnastasia58545Childebert IIJohn IV of Constantinople58546Childebert II58947Childebert IIMaurice58548GogoGrasulf of Istriabefore 581?
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