Frisians and their North Sea Neighbours: From the Fifth Century to the Viking Age

An investigation into the mysterious Frisians, drawing together evidence from linguistic, textual, and archaeological sources, reveals that they were Celtic-speaking peoples who were probably completely replaced in the course of the convulsions that Europe underwent during the fourth and fifth centuries. The essays present the most up-to-date discoveries, research, and interpretation, combining and integrating linguistic, textual, and archaeological evidence, and follow the story of the various Frisians through from the Roman Period to the next great period of disruption and change introduced by the Viking Scandinavians.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2023
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

An in-depth exploration into the enigmatic Frisians, drawing upon evidence from linguistic, textual, and archaeological sources. From as early as the first century AD, learned Romans were aware of more than one group of people residing in north-western Europe, beyond their Empire's Gallic provinces, whose names contained the element that gives us modern Frisian. These were purportedly Celtic-speaking populations, but it is likely that they were entirely replaced during the convulsions that Europe experienced during the fourth and fifth centuries. While the significance of linguistically Germanic Frisians as neighbors of the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Saxons, and Danes in the centuries immediately following the fall of the Roman Empire in the West is widely acknowledged, these folk themselves remain enigmatic, with many aspects of their culture and organization unfamiliar to many. The Frisian population and their lands, encompassing all the coastal communities of the North Sea region and their connections with the Baltic shores, form the central focus of this volume. However, they are often viewed through comparison with, or even through the eyes of, their neighbors. The essays present the most recent discoveries, research, and interpretations, combining and integrating linguistic, textual, and archaeological evidence. They trace the story of the various Frisians from the Roman Period to the next great period of disruption and change introduced by the Viking Scandinavians. Contributors: Elzbieta Adamczyk, Iris Aufderhaar, Pieterjan Deckers, Menno Dijkstra, John Hines, Nelleke Ijssennagger, Hauke Jöns, Egge Knol, Jan de Koning, Johan Nicolay, Han Nijdam, Tim Pestell, Peter Schrijver, Arjen Versloot, Gaby Waxenberger, Christiane Zimmermann.

Weight: 754g
Dimension: 170 x 240 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837651306