Etichonids
Encyclopedia
The Etichonids were an important noble family, probably of Frankish
, Burgundian
or Visigothic origin, who rose to dominate the region of Alsace
in the Early Middle Ages
from the seventh to the tenth centuries.
The earliest accounts record the family's beginnings in the pagus Attoariensis around Dijon
in northern Burgundy. In the mid-seventh century a duke of the region named Amalgar and his wife Aquilina are noticed as major founders and patrons of monasteries. With donations given by the King Dagobert I
and his father to recover their loyalty and in compensation for the losses that as supporters of Queen Brunhilde
and her grandson Sigebert II
they had,and from whom probably their ascendency in Burgundy stemmed originally,they founded a convent at Brégille and an abbey for men at Bèze
, installing children in both abbacies. They were succeeded by their third child, Adalrich, who was the father of Adalrich
, Duke of Alsace. This second Adalrich was the true founder of the family's greatness in Alsace, where he secured the ducal title. His cognomen, Eticho, became the name of the family.
Under the Etichonids, Alsace was generally divided into a Nordgau and a Sundgau
. These counties, as well as the monasteries of the duchy, were brought under tighter control of the dukes with the rise of the Etichonids. There exists scholarly debate concerning whether or not the Etichonids were in conflict or alliance with the Carolingians, but it is possible that they were both: opponents of the extension of Charles Martel's
authority in the 720s when he first made war on Alemannia, but allies when the Alemanni, under Duke Theudebald invaded Alsace (which had a large Alemannic element in its population) in the early 740s. The last Etichonid duke, Liutfrid, may have died fighting Theudebald on behalf of Pepin the Short.
Among the descendants of the Etichonids, in the female line were Hugh of Tours
and his family, including his daughter Ermengard, who was wife to Lothair I
and thus mother to three Carolingian kings. In the tenth century the Etichonids remained powerful in Alsace as counts, but their power was circumscribed significantly by the Ottonians and by the eleventh century, Pope Leo IX
seems unaware that his ancestors, the lords (or counts) of Dabo
and Eguisheim
for the previous half century were in fact the direct descendants of the last Etichonids.
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, Burgundian
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
or Visigothic origin, who rose to dominate the region of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
in the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
from the seventh to the tenth centuries.
The earliest accounts record the family's beginnings in the pagus Attoariensis around Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
in northern Burgundy. In the mid-seventh century a duke of the region named Amalgar and his wife Aquilina are noticed as major founders and patrons of monasteries. With donations given by the King Dagobert I
Dagobert I
Dagobert I was the king of Austrasia , king of all the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy . He was the last Merovingian dynast to wield any real royal power...
and his father to recover their loyalty and in compensation for the losses that as supporters of Queen Brunhilde
Brunhilda of Austrasia
Brunhilda was a Visigothic princess, married to king Sigebert I of Austrasia who ruled the eastern kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy in the names of her sons and grandsons...
and her grandson Sigebert II
Sigebert II
Sigebert II was king of Burgundy and Austrasia . Bastard son of Theuderic II, he succeeded his father in 613; but the mayor of the palace of Austrasia, Warnachar, feared that at his young age he would fall under the influence of his great-grandmother Brunhilda.Brunhilda had brought him before a...
they had,and from whom probably their ascendency in Burgundy stemmed originally,they founded a convent at Brégille and an abbey for men at Bèze
Bèze
Bèze is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, installing children in both abbacies. They were succeeded by their third child, Adalrich, who was the father of Adalrich
Adalrich, Duke of Alsace
Adalrich , also known as Eticho, was the Duke of Alsace, the founder of the family of the Etichonids, and an important and influential figure in the power politic of late seventh-century Austrasia....
, Duke of Alsace. This second Adalrich was the true founder of the family's greatness in Alsace, where he secured the ducal title. His cognomen, Eticho, became the name of the family.
Under the Etichonids, Alsace was generally divided into a Nordgau and a Sundgau
Sundgau
Sundgau is a geographical territory on the eastern edge of France that was once a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. The name Sundgau derives from Alemannic German, which means "South County" ....
. These counties, as well as the monasteries of the duchy, were brought under tighter control of the dukes with the rise of the Etichonids. There exists scholarly debate concerning whether or not the Etichonids were in conflict or alliance with the Carolingians, but it is possible that they were both: opponents of the extension of Charles Martel's
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
authority in the 720s when he first made war on Alemannia, but allies when the Alemanni, under Duke Theudebald invaded Alsace (which had a large Alemannic element in its population) in the early 740s. The last Etichonid duke, Liutfrid, may have died fighting Theudebald on behalf of Pepin the Short.
Among the descendants of the Etichonids, in the female line were Hugh of Tours
Hugh of Tours
Hugh was the count of Tours and Sens during the reigns of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, until his disgrace in February 828. He was probably a son of Count Haicho of the House of the Etichonen....
and his family, including his daughter Ermengard, who was wife to Lothair I
Lothair I
Lothair I or Lothar I was the Emperor of the Romans , co-ruling with his father until 840, and the King of Bavaria , Italy and Middle Francia...
and thus mother to three Carolingian kings. In the tenth century the Etichonids remained powerful in Alsace as counts, but their power was circumscribed significantly by the Ottonians and by the eleventh century, Pope Leo IX
Pope Leo IX
Pope Saint Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. He was a German aristocrat and as well as being Pope was a powerful secular ruler of central Italy. He is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with the feast day of April 19...
seems unaware that his ancestors, the lords (or counts) of Dabo
Dabo, Moselle
Dabo is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.An informal Franco-German summit between President Mitterrand and Chancellor Kohl took place in Dabo July 19, 1983....
and Eguisheim
Eguisheim
Eguisheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Eguisheim produces Alsace wine of high quality. The commune is largely German-speaking.-History:...
for the previous half century were in fact the direct descendants of the last Etichonids.
Sources
- Hummer, Hans J. Politics and Power in Early Medieval Europe: Alsace and the Frankish Realm 600–1000. Cambridge University Press: 2005. See mainly pp 46–55.