Willibrord between Ireland, Britain and Merovingian Francia (690–739)

Michel Summer is a Postdoctoral researcher and secretary of the Institute for Franconian and Palatine History at Heidelberg University. He received his PhD in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin in 2021.

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Hagiographical Narrative versus the Charter Evidence
The Depiction of Willibrord’s Network in Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica and Alcuin’s Prose Vita Willibrordi
Early Life in Northumbria and Ireland
The Mission to Frisia
Willibrord’s Relationship with Pippin II
Beyond Utrecht and Rome
The Charters of the Liber aureus Epternacensis: Implications and Limitations
The Compilation of the Liber aureus: Theoderic’s Chronicon (1191)
Camille Wampach’s Edition (1929–30)
Irmina and the Foundation of Echternach
Donors and Networks: Beyond the Hugobert-Irmina-Sippe

Chapter 2: Between Ireland and Francia: Willibrord’s Ecclesiastical Network
Intersections: The Martyrological Entries in Willibrord’s Calendar
The Date and Compilation of the Calendar
Establishing an Interpretative Framework for the Calendar
Foundations: Willibrord’s Ecclesiastical Horizon around 700
Bede, Oswald and Ecgberct
Fursa, Fóillán and Amandus
Connections: The Development of Willibrord’s Network, c. 690–728
Adaption: The Dioceses of Trier, Cologne and Tongeren-Maastricht
Expansion: Chelles, Thuringia, Strasbourg

Chapter 3: ‘Vassal’ or ‘Political Player’? The Relationship between Willibrord and the Family of Pippin II
A ‘Momentous Decision’? The Establishment of the See of Utrecht
Willibrord as Archbishop
The Mission to Frisia in its Political Context, 690–714
Willibrord Between Frisia and Francia, c. 706–26
Echternach and Susteren: Centres of ‘Carolingian’ Power?
Reassessing Willibrord’s Role in the ‘Pippinid Succession Crisis’

Conclusions

Bibliography