The Kingdom or Domain of Soissons[2] was a rump state of the Western Roman Empire in northern Gaul, between the Somme and the Seine, that lasted for some 25 years during Late Antiquity. The rulers of the rump state, notably its final ruler Syagrius, were referred to as "kings of the Romans" (Latin: rex Romanorum) by the Germanic peoples surrounding Soissons, with the polity itself being identified as the Regnum Romanorum, "Kingdom of the Romans", by the Gallo-Roman historian Gregory of Tours. Whether this title was used by Syagrius himself or was applied to him by the barbarians surrounding his realm in a similar way to how they referred to their own leaders as kings is unknown.[3] "Kingdom (or Domain) of Soissons" is a later, historiographical term for the state.
The Kingdom of Soissons began when Emperor Majorian (457–461) appointed Aegidius as magister militum of Roman Gaul. When Majorian was killed on the orders of Ricimer in 461, Aegidius maintained his own rule in the remnants of Roman Gaul. In the chaos of contemporary Gaul, he maintained his power against Franks to his east and Visigoths to his south.
Aegidius died in 464 or 465. His son Syagrius succeeded to the rule. In 486, Syagrius lost the Battle of Soissons to the Frankish king Clovis I and the domain was thereafter under the control of the Franks.
The Kingdom of Soissons originated in the reign of the Western Emperor Majorian (457–461). Majorian appointed Aegidius to be magister militum of the Gallic provinces. The remaining Roman territory in Gaul in the northwest was connected with the Roman possessions in the Auvergne, Provence and Languedoc which connected these to Italy. During Majorian's reign, that corridor was annexed by the Germanic tribes now occupying Gaul, thus effectively cutting off Aegidius and his citizens from the Empire.[4] Majorian and Aegidius had recovered the Roman position in most of Gaul, but with the death of Majorian in 461 the Roman position in the center and south deteriorated. These provinces were annexed by the Visigoths and Burgundians in the years 462-477, which left the remaining Roman territories in Gaul isolated.
Aegidius continued to govern until his death in 464. His comes, Paulus of Angers, was killed shortly afterwards, possibly on the same campaign. At that point Aegidius's son, Syagrius, took his place as ruler. Syagrius governed using the title of dux (a provincial military commander), but the neighboring Germanic tribes referred to him as "King of the Romans"; hence one of the nicknames of his enclave.[5] In 476, under the rule of Syagrius, the Kingdom of Soissons failed to accept the new rule of Odoacer who had dethroned the Western Emperor earlier that year. While both Syagrius and Odoacer sent messengers to the Eastern Roman Empire, the Eastern emperor Zeno chose to offer legitimacy to Odoacer instead of Syagrius. The Kingdom of Soissons cut all ties with Italy and had no further recorded contact with the Eastern Roman Empire. Even after 476, Syagrius continued to maintain that he was merely governing a Roman province. The Domain of Soissons was in fact an independent region.[4]
Childeric died about 481, and his son Clovis I became the Frankish king. Clovis made continual war against Syagrius, and in the end took over all his territory. Syagrius lost the final Battle of Soissons in 486; many historians consider this Clovis' greatest victory.[6] Syagrius fled to the Visigothic king Alaric II, but the Franks threatened war if Syagrius were not surrendered to them. Syagrius was sent back to Clovis, who had him executed in 486 or 487.[4][5][7]
The Kingdom of Soissons was a remnant of the Roman Empire within Gaul surrounded by newly established Germanic kingdoms.
Clovis I ruled the Franks until his death in 511. When he died, the Frankish realm was divided into four kingdoms, one for each of his sons. Clothar I received a portion centred in Soissons, where he had been born a decade after Syagrius' death. Clothar survived all his brothers and their families - in one case by murdering the sons of a deceased brother - and eventually reunited the realm in 555.[5]
When Clothar died in 561, the Frankish realm was divided into three kingdoms, one for each son. The portions centred around Soissons and Paris eventually developed into the kingdom of Neustria, which remained one of the key divisions of the Frankish realm.
When Aegidius was appointed magister militum ofGaul by Emperor Majorian, he took control of the remaining Roman troops in Gaul. According to Eastern Roman writer Priscus, Aegidius and Syagrius both commanded "large forces".[4] At one point, Aegidius and/or Syagrius even threatened the Western Roman Empire with an invasion of Italy if the empire did not grant their requests. Their forces also offered effective resistance to the power of the Visigoth Kingdom, to the south and west of Soissons. MacGeorge (2002) estimates that Syagrius had around 6,000 troops at his disposal as of 486.[8]
See alsoEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Domain of Soissons.
^Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481-751. U of Minnesota Press. p. 3. ISBN9780816657001. By 481 the two peoples competing for predominance in this territory were the Visigoths in southwestern Gaul and the Burgundians in the southeast. Among the lesser groups contending for power were the Armorici (a loose confederation of Gallo-Romans, Britons, Alans, and erstwhile imperial soldiers with their families), who lived in the area between the Seine and the Loire. To the north, between the Seine and the Somme, was Syagrius's Roman kingdom of Soissons and to the east along the upper Rhine were settlements of Alamans. North of these was a small band of Thuringians. The remainder of the Rhineland and the area to the west were ruled by Frankish reguli or chieftains, who, with their warbands, were settled around Tournai, Cambrai, Cologne, and the other cities of the region.
^MacGeorge, Penny (2002). Late Roman Warlords. Oxford University Press. pp. 111–113. ISBN0-19-925244-0. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
^S. Fanning, "Emperors and empires in fifth-century Gaul", in John Drinkwater and Hugh Elton, Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity? (Cambridge: University Press, 1992), pp. 288-297
^ abcdPenny MacGeorge (5 December 2002). Late Roman Warlords. ISBN978-0-19-925244-2. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
^ abcGeorge Muir Bussey, Thomas Gaspey and Théodose Burette (1850). A History of France and of the French People. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
^Michael Frassetto (2003). Encyclopedia of barbarian Europe. ISBN978-1-57607-263-9. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
^Lucien Bély and Angela Moyon (2001). The History of France. ISBN978-2-87747-563-1. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
^MacGeorge, Penny (2002). Late Roman Warlords. OUP Oxford. p. 157. ISBN9780191530913.
NotesEdit
^Calculated with Google Maps according to the referenced map.
October 15, 2023
kingdom, soissons, later, merovingian, kingdom, neustria, kingdom, domain, soissons, rump, state, western, roman, empire, northern, gaul, between, somme, seine, that, lasted, some, years, during, late, antiquity, rulers, rump, state, notably, final, ruler, sya. For the later Merovingian kingdom see Neustria The Kingdom or Domain of Soissons 2 was a rump state of the Western Roman Empire in northern Gaul between the Somme and the Seine that lasted for some 25 years during Late Antiquity The rulers of the rump state notably its final ruler Syagrius were referred to as kings of the Romans Latin rex Romanorum by the Germanic peoples surrounding Soissons with the polity itself being identified as the Regnum Romanorum Kingdom of the Romans by the Gallo Roman historian Gregory of Tours Whether this title was used by Syagrius himself or was applied to him by the barbarians surrounding his realm in a similar way to how they referred to their own leaders as kings is unknown 3 Kingdom or Domain of Soissons is a later historiographical term for the state Kingdom of the Romans Domain of SoissonsRegnum Romanorum457 486The Kingdom of Soissons in 476 1 StatusRump state of the Western Roman EmpireCapitalNoviodunum modern day Soissons Common languagesLatin GaulishReligionChristianity Gallo Roman paganism and Germanic paganismGovernmentRoman rump stateRuler 457 464Aegidius 464 486SyagriusHistorical eraLate Antiquity Established457 Disestablished486Area Total50 000 note 1 km2 19 000 sq mi CurrencyRoman currencyPreceded by Succeeded byWestern Roman Empire NeustriaThe Kingdom of Soissons began when Emperor Majorian 457 461 appointed Aegidius as magister militum of Roman Gaul When Majorian was killed on the orders of Ricimer in 461 Aegidius maintained his own rule in the remnants of Roman Gaul In the chaos of contemporary Gaul he maintained his power against Franks to his east and Visigoths to his south Aegidius died in 464 or 465 His son Syagrius succeeded to the rule In 486 Syagrius lost the Battle of Soissons to the Frankish king Clovis I and the domain was thereafter under the control of the Franks Contents 1 History 2 Army 3 See also 4 References 5 NotesHistory Edit nbsp Domain of Syagrius North West within the Western Roman Empire blue The Kingdom of Soissons originated in the reign of the Western Emperor Majorian 457 461 Majorian appointed Aegidius to be magister militum of the Gallic provinces The remaining Roman territory in Gaul in the northwest was connected with the Roman possessions in the Auvergne Provence and Languedoc which connected these to Italy During Majorian s reign that corridor was annexed by the Germanic tribes now occupying Gaul thus effectively cutting off Aegidius and his citizens from the Empire 4 Majorian and Aegidius had recovered the Roman position in most of Gaul but with the death of Majorian in 461 the Roman position in the center and south deteriorated These provinces were annexed by the Visigoths and Burgundians in the years 462 477 which left the remaining Roman territories in Gaul isolated Aegidius was allied with the Alans and with Childeric I king of the Salian Franks of Tournai and helped them defeat the Visigoths at Orleans in 463 According to Gregory of Tours Aegidius even ruled the Franks during Childeric s banishment but Childeric later returned from exile It is possible that the Groans of the Britons referring to a Romano British request for military assistance after the Roman departure from Britain may have been addressed to Aegidius Aegidius continued to govern until his death in 464 His comes Paulus of Angers was killed shortly afterwards possibly on the same campaign At that point Aegidius s son Syagrius took his place as ruler Syagrius governed using the title of dux a provincial military commander but the neighboring Germanic tribes referred to him as King of the Romans hence one of the nicknames of his enclave 5 In 476 under the rule of Syagrius the Kingdom of Soissons failed to accept the new rule of Odoacer who had dethroned the Western Emperor earlier that year While both Syagrius and Odoacer sent messengers to the Eastern Roman Empire the Eastern emperor Zeno chose to offer legitimacy to Odoacer instead of Syagrius The Kingdom of Soissons cut all ties with Italy and had no further recorded contact with the Eastern Roman Empire Even after 476 Syagrius continued to maintain that he was merely governing a Roman province The Domain of Soissons was in fact an independent region 4 Childeric died about 481 and his son Clovis I became the Frankish king Clovis made continual war against Syagrius and in the end took over all his territory Syagrius lost the final Battle of Soissons in 486 many historians consider this Clovis greatest victory 6 Syagrius fled to the Visigothic king Alaric II but the Franks threatened war if Syagrius were not surrendered to them Syagrius was sent back to Clovis who had him executed in 486 or 487 4 5 7 nbsp The Kingdom of Soissons was a remnant of the Roman Empire within Gaul surrounded by newly established Germanic kingdoms Kingdom of Soissons Early Francia Alamannia Burgundia Visigothic Kingdom Brittany Celtic Clovis I ruled the Franks until his death in 511 When he died the Frankish realm was divided into four kingdoms one for each of his sons Clothar I received a portion centred in Soissons where he had been born a decade after Syagrius death Clothar survived all his brothers and their families in one case by murdering the sons of a deceased brother and eventually reunited the realm in 555 5 When Clothar died in 561 the Frankish realm was divided into three kingdoms one for each son The portions centred around Soissons and Paris eventually developed into the kingdom of Neustria which remained one of the key divisions of the Frankish realm Army Edit nbsp Domain of Soissons in detailMain article Late Roman army When Aegidius was appointed magister militum of Gaul by Emperor Majorian he took control of the remaining Roman troops in Gaul According to Eastern Roman writer Priscus Aegidius and Syagrius both commanded large forces 4 At one point Aegidius and or Syagrius even threatened the Western Roman Empire with an invasion of Italy if the empire did not grant their requests Their forces also offered effective resistance to the power of the Visigoth Kingdom to the south and west of Soissons MacGeorge 2002 estimates that Syagrius had around 6 000 troops at his disposal as of 486 8 See also Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Domain of Soissons Vase of SoissonsReferences Edit Bachrach Bernard S 1972 Merovingian Military Organization 481 751 U of Minnesota Press p 3 ISBN 9780816657001 By 481 the two peoples competing for predominance in this territory were the Visigoths in southwestern Gaul and the Burgundians in the southeast Among the lesser groups contending for power were the Armorici a loose confederation of Gallo Romans Britons Alans and erstwhile imperial soldiers with their families who lived in the area between the Seine and the Loire To the north between the Seine and the Somme was Syagrius s Roman kingdom of Soissons and to the east along the upper Rhine were settlements of Alamans North of these was a small band of Thuringians The remainder of the Rhineland and the area to the west were ruled by Frankish reguli or chieftains who with their warbands were settled around Tournai Cambrai Cologne and the other cities of the region MacGeorge Penny 2002 Late Roman Warlords Oxford University Press pp 111 113 ISBN 0 19 925244 0 Retrieved September 23 2013 S Fanning Emperors and empires in fifth century Gaul in John Drinkwater and Hugh Elton Fifth Century Gaul A Crisis of Identity Cambridge University Press 1992 pp 288 297 a b c d Penny MacGeorge 5 December 2002 Late Roman Warlords ISBN 978 0 19 925244 2 Retrieved 2009 04 20 a b c George Muir Bussey Thomas Gaspey and Theodose Burette 1850 A History of France and of the French People Retrieved 2009 04 20 Michael Frassetto 2003 Encyclopedia of barbarian Europe ISBN 978 1 57607 263 9 Retrieved 2009 04 20 Lucien Bely and Angela Moyon 2001 The History of France ISBN 978 2 87747 563 1 Retrieved 2009 04 20 MacGeorge Penny 2002 Late Roman Warlords OUP Oxford p 157 ISBN 9780191530913 Notes Edit Calculated with Google Maps according to the referenced map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kingdom of Soissons amp oldid 1152625953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
