Bisinus

Bisinus (sometimes also Basinus , Besinus or Bisin ) is the name of two different rulers of the Thuringians who lived in the late 5th century at the time of the Great Migration . Both are mentioned by Gregory of Tours in his histories (Gregory, Historien 2,12 and 3,4).

The first ruler mentioned by Gregor Bysinus is said to have been a ruler of the Thuringians around 460. He is said to have taken in King Childerich I, who was expelled by the Franconian greats and who allegedly kidnapped his wife Basena and with her fathered Clovis I , the founder of the Franconian Empire . This representation is historically unreliable, although Clovis's mother was actually Basena. It is possible that this Bysinus is not historical, but only the second person (see below). Gregor wrote this part of the histories down around 575 and often only used oral traditions that were not particularly reliable. The name Basena appears frequently in the Thuringian nobility, as evidence from excavations. Perhaps, according to the theory, Gregor confused Basena with another person from the Bysinus family.

The second Bisinus ruled over the Thuringians around 500 and is historically better documented, he is considered the first secured Thuringian king. Gregory of Tours does not mention his name, but that of two of his sons who are mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus (around 600) as the sons of a Bisinus ( Bessinus ). This second Bisinus was married to a Longobard named Menia . He had three sons: Herminafried , Baderich , and Berthachar , who succeeded him in different parts of the empire that was conquered by the Franks a little later (531/34). He also had a daughter, Raicunda , who was married to the Longobard king Wacho .

Remarks

1. ↑ On Childerich's alleged exile, for example, Matthias Becher : Clovis I. The rise of the Merovingians and the end of the ancient world. Munich 2011, pp. 124–127.
2. ↑ Cf. Jörg Jarnut : Thuringians and Longobards in the 6th and early 7th centuries . In: Helmut Castritius , Dieter Geuenich , Matthias Werner (ed.): The early days of the Thuringians. Archeology, language, history , in: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , supplementary volume 63 . Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2009, ISBN 978-3-11-021454-3 , pp. 279 .
3. ↑ Cf. Matthias Springer :  Thüringer. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 30, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-018385-4 , p. 525 f.

literature

• Wilhelm Heizmann , Matthias Springer , Claudia Theune-Vogt , Jürgen Udolph :  Thuringian. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 30, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-018385-4 , pp. 519-544.
• The early days of the Thuringians. Archeology, language, history . In: Helmut Castritius , Dieter Geuenich , Matthias Werner (eds.): Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Supplementary volume No. 63.Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2009, ISBN 978-3-11-021454-3 .

predecessor	Office	successor
unsecured	King of the Thuringians around 500	Herminafried Berthachar (Lower King?) Baderich of Thuringia (Lower King?)