Home Region:  Western Europe (Europe)

Middle Merovingian

543 CE 687 CE
EQ 2020  fr_merovingian_emp_2 / FrMervM
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
481 CE 543 CE Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
687 CE 751 CE Proto-Carolingian (fr_merovingian_emp_3)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
During our second Merovingian period (543-687 CE), the kingdom was still a ’quasi-polity’, consisting of numerous Frankish kingdoms under the nominal leadership of a king who had his primary residence in Paris. [1] Under the kings Chlothar II (r. 584-629 CE) and Dagobert I (r. 629-639 CE), the Merovingian kingdom reached the height of its power both internally and externally. [2] [3]
Population and political organization
Merovingian France was a largely decentralized kingdom based on the pre-existing Roman administrative system, in which cities were the basic units. [4] The city rulers, known as counts or grafio, who sent the king his tax revenue and carried out judicial and administrative functions, had access to both administrative officials and city archives (gesta municipalia). [5] [4] Groups of cities and counts could be placed under a duke for military and administrative purposes. [6]
In contrast, there was no elaborate central administration, the highest non-royal official being a figure known as the mayor of the palace. [7] The king’s capital and main residence was at Paris, where the population may have reached 30,000 by the 8th century CE, [8] although the court was always a peripatetic institution. [9] The king consulted a group of magnates (obtimates) at an annual gathering around 1 March. Written references to royal edicts are known from 614 CE onwards, but earlier royal legislation has not survived. [10] Merovingian kings had the authority to appoint dukes and counts as well as bishops, who were often ’royal servants with no known connections with their sees’. [11]
From 622 CE onwards the basic territorial divisions of the Merovingian Kingdom were Neustria (centred on the Seine and Oise rivers and associated with the Pactus Legis Salicae law code), [12] Burgundy (where the Liber Constitutionum was developed), and Austrasia (by the Rhine and Meuse, which came to possess its own mayor of the palace [13] and followed the Lex Ribvaria). [12] A fourth area, Aquitaine, had a special status due to its distance from the royal centres and was under less direct Merovingian control. [14]

[1]: (Wood 1994, 41) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[2]: (Wood 1994, 140) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[3]: (Morby and Rozier 2014) Morby, John E., and Charlie Rozier. 2014. Dynasties of the World. 2nd ed., online edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acref/9780191780073.001.0001. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3C5IVS6E.

[4]: (Loseby 1998, 245-49) Loseby, S. T. 1998. “Gregory’s Cities: Urban Functions in Sixth-Century Gaul.” In Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by I. N. Wood, 239-69. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/DT5E5GNS.

[5]: (Wood 1994, 204) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[6]: (Bachrach 1972, 67) Bachrach, Bernard S. 1972. Merovingian Military Organization 481-751. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/SG5XNFPG.

[7]: (Halsall 2003, 28) Halsall, Guy. 2003. Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West, 450-900. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Z5EZBP2R.

[8]: (Clark and Henneman, Jr. 1995, 1316) Clark, William W., and John Bell Henneman, Jr. 1995. “Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1314-30. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HS8644XK.

[9]: (Wood 1994, 150-53) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[10]: (Fouracre 1998, 286-89) Fouracre, P. J. 1998. “The Nature of Frankish Political Institutions in the Seventh Century.” In Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by Ian Wood, 285-316. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GT2AINW4.

[11]: (Wood 1994, 78) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[12]: (Wood 1994, 112-15) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[13]: (Fanning 1995, 157) Fanning, Steven. 1995. “Austrasia.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 156-57. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GR2MKFDX.

[14]: (Wood 1994, 100, 146) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2) was in:
 (543 CE 686 CE) Paris Basin
Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 31 U 543 CE  687 CE
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Original Name Middle Merovingian 543 CE  687 CE
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Capital Paris 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternative Name 543 CE  687 CE
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Temporal Bounds Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration [543 CE ➜ 687 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none 543 CE  687 CE
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Succeeding Entity Proto-Carolingian 543 CE  687 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 543 CE  687 CE
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Preceding Entity
481 CE 543 CE
Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)   [continuity] 
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Succeeding Entity
687 CE 751 CE
Proto-Carolingian (fr_merovingian_emp_3)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 543 CE  687 CE
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Degree of Centralization 543 CE  687 CE
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Degree of Centralization 543 CE  687 CE
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Degree of Centralization 543 CE  687 CE
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Language Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 543 CE  687 CE
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Language Latin 543 CE  687 CE
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Language Germanic 543 CE  687 CE
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Religion Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 543 CE  687 CE
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Religion Family Catholic 543 CE  687 CE
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Religion Roman Catholic 543 CE  687 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 543 CE  687 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 543 CE  687 CE
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Polity Territory 600 CE
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Polity Population 600 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 543 CE  687 CE
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Religious Level 543 CE  687 CE
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Military Level 543 CE  687 CE
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Administrative Level 543 CE  687 CE
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Professions Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 543 CE  687 CE
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Professional Priesthood 543 CE  687 CE
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Professional Military Officer 543 CE  687 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 543 CE  687 CE
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Merit Promotion 543 CE  687 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 543 CE  687 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Law Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 543 CE  687 CE
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Judge 543 CE  687 CE
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543 CE  687 CE
Court 543 CE  687 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 543 CE  687 CE
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Irrigation System 543 CE  687 CE
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Food Storage Site 543 CE  687 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 543 CE  687 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 543 CE  687 CE
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Port 543 CE  687 CE
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Canal 543 CE  687 CE
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Bridge 543 CE  687 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 543 CE  687 CE
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Information / Writing System Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 543 CE  687 CE
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Script 543 CE  687 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 543 CE  687 CE
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Nonwritten Record 543 CE  687 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 543 CE  687 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Sacred Text 543 CE  687 CE
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Religious Literature 543 CE  687 CE
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Practical Literature 543 CE  687 CE
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Philosophy 543 CE  687 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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History 543 CE  687 CE
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Fiction 543 CE  687 CE
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Calendar 543 CE  687 CE
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Information / Money Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Precious Metal 543 CE  687 CE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Indigenous Coin 543 CE  687 CE
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Foreign Coin 543 CE  687 CE
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Article 543 CE  687 CE
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Information / Postal System Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Information / Measurement System Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 543 CE  687 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 543 CE  687 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 543 CE  687 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 543 CE  687 CE
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Modern Fortification 543 CE  687 CE
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Moat 543 CE  687 CE
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Fortified Camp 543 CE  687 CE
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Earth Rampart 543 CE  687 CE
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Ditch 543 CE  687 CE
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Complex Fortification 543 CE  687 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Military use of Metals Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 543 CE  687 CE
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Steel 543 CE  687 CE
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Iron 543 CE  687 CE
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Copper 543 CE  687 CE
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Bronze 543 CE  687 CE
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Projectiles Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 543 CE  687 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 543 CE  687 CE
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Sling 543 CE  687 CE
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Self Bow 543 CE  687 CE
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Javelin 543 CE  687 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 543 CE  687 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 543 CE  687 CE
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Crossbow 543 CE  687 CE
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Composite Bow 543 CE  687 CE
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Atlatl 543 CE  687 CE
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Handheld weapons Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 543 CE  687 CE
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Sword 543 CE  687 CE
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Spear 543 CE  687 CE
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Polearm 543 CE  687 CE
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Dagger 543 CE  687 CE
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Battle Axe 543 CE  687 CE
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Animals used in warfare Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 543 CE  687 CE
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Elephant 543 CE  687 CE
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Donkey 543 CE  687 CE
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Dog 543 CE  687 CE
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Camel 543 CE  687 CE
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Armor Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 543 CE  687 CE
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Shield 543 CE  687 CE
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Scaled Armor 543 CE  687 CE
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Plate Armor Unknown Suspected 543 CE  687 CE
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Limb Protection 543 CE  687 CE
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Leather Cloth 543 CE  687 CE
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Laminar Armor 543 CE  687 CE
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Helmet 543 CE  687 CE
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Chainmail 543 CE  687 CE
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Breastplate 543 CE  687 CE
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Naval technology Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 543 CE  687 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 543 CE  687 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 543 CE  687 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 543 CE  687 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 543 CE  687 CE
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Human Sacrifice Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions