ABSTRACT

Reference to the Carolingian dynasty and its members’ mutual affection conveyed the idea that there still was some overarching idea of ‘brotherhood’ or close kinship that allowed writers to conceive of the divided Frankish kingdom as a coherent whole. By referring to the Carolingian idea of joint rulership of two or more rulers from the same dynasty, Wipo thus seems to advocate the solution that the king and duke both came from the same family, a situation that would not cause the break-up of the kingdom. In the Carolingian period, general oaths of fidelity like those sworn to Charlemagne, Louis the Pious or Charles the Bald created a direct personal bond between the adult male free population and the Carolingian ruler and his family. For the issue of oath-taking the Carolingian period offered various important models, which could be found in manuscripts and texts that were available.