Археологические признаки «варварских королевств» эпохи Великого переселения народов
Archaeological signs of «barbarian kingdoms» of the migration period

Summary/Abstract: In Europe, pre-state military-political formations, lacking codified written laws and a permanent local administrative apparatus, are well known during the migration period. In these «barbarian kingdoms», power is based on overt military force; the leader must be a military leader, and the social significance of each individual is determined primarily by their proximity to the leader. The king here is primarily a military leader; his other functions are secondary. He is a unifying figure, around whom a diverse retinue of warriors gathers, representing the true support of his power. This form of organization often accompanies the first type of ethnogenesis of barbarian peoples, as defined by H. Wolfram (the so-called “new peoples,” led by military leaders). Such formations typically have a relatively small territory and are often short-lived. This system has a chance of persisting if it integrates into the surrounding social structure and becomes part of it.Such «kingdoms» are well known from written sources from the 5th century in Western and Central Europe. They occupy a compact territory, particularly evident in the Danubian or Frankish kingdoms of the mid- to late 5th century. Archaeologically, such formations should be manifested, firstly, by the appearance of rich «chieftain» graves with a pronounced military component. Secondly, these «kingdoms» are characterized by a concentration of rich and «armed» burials in compact, small areas. Thirdly, the multicultural nature of such formations is clearly evident. Often, within the same necropolis, within a very limited group of people, cultural markers of diverse origins are simultaneously recorded. Most likely, this situation reflects the multiethnic nature of the ruling and warrior elites of the «barbarian kingdoms».

• Details
• Contents