Frankish Pagan Beliefs:
– Frankish paganism similar to other Germanic peoples
– Migration era religion shared characteristics with Germanic paganism
– Worship of deities like Wuodan, Freia, Donar, and Zio
– Franks believed in an omnipotent god named Allfadir
Symbolism in Frankish Paganism:
– Cattle symbolism: Golden cicadas and bees symbolizing eternal life
– Bulls pulling carts considered special animals
– Speculation on Merovingian conception from Germanic goddess Nerthus
– Fertility ritual symbolized by a golden bull head in Childeric I’s grave
Frankish Mythology:
– Foundation myth comparable to Aeneas myth in Roman mythology
– Stories of Trojans and Sicambri settling in Pannonia and moving to the Rhine
– Scholars view the myth as lacking historical substance
– Panegyrical use of archaic names for contemporary things
Sacral Kingship in Frankish Paganism:
– Pagan Frankish rulers maintained positions based on charisma
– Legitimacy of rulers possibly based on divine descent and successes
– Story of Merovech’s legendary conception involving a sea beast
– Divine kingship myths flourishing in Charlemagne legends
Scholarly Perspectives on Frankish Paganism:
– Use of archaeological evidence in understanding Frankish paganism
– Scholarly perspectives on Frankish religious practices and beliefs
– References to scholarly works and sources
– Citations from various authors and historians
The pagan religion of the Germanic tribal confederation of the Franks has been traced from its roots in polytheistic Germanic paganism through to the incorporation of Greco-Roman components in the Early Middle Ages. This religion flourished among the Franks until the conversion of the Merovingian king Clovis I to Nicene Christianity (c. 500), though there were many Frankish Christians before that. After Clovis I, Frankish paganism was gradually replaced by the process of Christianisation, but there were still pagans in the late 7th century.[citation needed]
