The History of the Franks

What are Gregory of Tours’s reasons for writing his History of the Franks? What do his intentions reveal about literary culture and historiography in his own day compared to earlier and later eras?

In what ways does Christianity shape Gregory’s view of history? What does History of the Franks reveal about the role of the Church and bishops like Gregory in 6th-century society?

Analyze the succession rules and conflicts of the Merovingian Dynasty in the History. How did the Merovingian succession compare with those of other major monarchies of the time? What were the strengths and weaknesses of this succession? What does Gregory suggest about the nature of the Merovingian Dynasty more generally?