Felix of Aquitaine
Encyclopedia
Felix was a patrician of Toulouse
Duke of Aquitaine
from 660 until his death. He had his seat at Toulouse and he is considered the first independent Duke of Aquitaine, i.e. formally vassal of the Franks
but detached de facto from the Frankish central power base. He united under his rule the duchies of Vasconia and Aquitaine. Evidence suggests that his duchy was a recreation of the old kingdom of Charibert II
. The last known duke before Felix was Boggis
.
Therefore, in Felix's time Vasconia
formed a part of Aquitaine, into which it had been incorporated following the successful putting down of a rebellion in 645. It is disputable whether or not Felix was a duke in his own right over a state of his own creation or a Merovingian official governing a constituent kingdom of the Frankish realm. It is also argued that the Basques were the allies of the Aquitainians and not their subjects. Felix' duchy encompassed Bordeaux
, Vasconia (the Novempopulania
and its fuzzy bordering lands to the south and north-east) and Narbonensis (including Toulouse), but did not extend to the Loire
as in later ages.
Felix was succeeded by Lupus I
. It seems that he gave Lupus Vasconia in or around 670, for Lupus presides over the synod of Bordeaux in 673, though Felix was still in power at that time.
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
Duke of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
from 660 until his death. He had his seat at Toulouse and he is considered the first independent Duke of Aquitaine, i.e. formally vassal of the Franks
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...
but detached de facto from the Frankish central power base. He united under his rule the duchies of Vasconia and Aquitaine. Evidence suggests that his duchy was a recreation of the old kingdom of Charibert II
Charibert II
Charibert II , a son of Clotaire II and his junior wife Sichilde, was briefly King of Aquitaine from 629 to his death, with his capital at Toulouse. We have no direct statement about when Charibert was born exact that he was "a few years younger" than his half-brother Dagobert...
. The last known duke before Felix was Boggis
Boggis
Boggis, Bohggis, or Bodogisel was the Merovingians Duke of Aquitaine from the death of Chilperic of Aquitaine in 632 until his death....
.
Therefore, in Felix's time Vasconia
Duchy of Vasconia
The Duchy of Vasconia , or Wasconia, was originally a Frankish march formed by 602 to keep the Basques in check. It comprised the former Roman province of Novempopulania and, at least in some periods, also the lands south of the Pyrenees centred on Pamplona.In the ninth century, civil war within...
formed a part of Aquitaine, into which it had been incorporated following the successful putting down of a rebellion in 645. It is disputable whether or not Felix was a duke in his own right over a state of his own creation or a Merovingian official governing a constituent kingdom of the Frankish realm. It is also argued that the Basques were the allies of the Aquitainians and not their subjects. Felix' duchy encompassed Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, Vasconia (the Novempopulania
Novempopulania
Novempopulania was one of the provinces created by Diocletian out of Gallia Aquitania, being also called Aquitania Tertia. The area of Novempopulania was historically the first one to receive the name of Aquitania, as it was here where the original Aquitani dwelt primarily...
and its fuzzy bordering lands to the south and north-east) and Narbonensis (including Toulouse), but did not extend to the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
as in later ages.
Felix was succeeded by Lupus I
Lupus I of Aquitaine
Lupus I was the Duke of Gascony and Aquitaine from about 670. His reign may have lasted a few years or longer...
. It seems that he gave Lupus Vasconia in or around 670, for Lupus presides over the synod of Bordeaux in 673, though Felix was still in power at that time.
Sources
- Estornés Lasa, Bernardo. Auñamendi Encyclopedia: Ducado de Vasconia
- Lewis, Archibald R. "The Dukes in the Regnum Francorum, A.D. 550-751." Speculum, Vol. 51, No 3 (July 1976), pp 381–410
- Sedycias, João. História da Língua Espanhola
- Higounet, Charles. Bordeaux pendant le haut moyen age. Bordeaux, 1963
- Miracula Sancti Martialis Lemovicensis. MGH SS XV