Laeten

Laeti , the plural form of laetus , was a term that was used in the late Roman Empire since the late 3rd century. The term referred to Germanic tribes, which according to their - z. Partly also voluntary - submission to Roman power in Northern Gaul by Emperor Constantius Chlorus (293-306) were mainly settled on state land, were in the legal status of bondage and did military service for the Roman Empire.

The term laetus was first mentioned in 297, the last time the existence of Laeten is attested for the year 465. The origin of the term laetus is uncertain, but it is probably derived from the West Germanic word “lātan” (e.g. ahd. Lāz , mnl. Laet , afries. Lēt , aengl . Lǣt ), which means something like “to release “, Meaning ' serf , bondage or semi-free'. Other sources see the origin of the term in the Latin , Celtic or even Persian language.

The Notitia dignitatum (troop list of the Dux Belgicae secundae ) lists them in the administrative area of several cities: 6 Sarmatian, 3 Suebi and one Franconian community. In addition, Laeten settled in the areas of the Nervier and Lingons and were under the command of a praefectus laetorum .

literature

Horst-Wolfgang Böhme , Helmut Castritius : Laeten and Laetengräber. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 17, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2000, ISBN 3-11-016907-X , pp. 580-588.

Individual evidence

↑ For the historical background to the settlement of the “laeti” see Ernst Wahle: Prehistory and early history in Central Europe . 9. Edit again Edition Gebhardt. Handbook of German History . Edited by Herbert Grundmann. Volume 1. Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, pp. 140–142
↑ In the case of EF Jung, however, the term “laeti” only refers to prisoners of war, cf. Ernst F. Jung: You conquered Rome. The role of the Teutons from the early days to Charlemagne . 2nd edition Munich: Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, 1980, p. 316
^ Adolf Lippold: Laeti . In: Konrad Ziegler / Walther Sontheimer (eds.): Der Kleine Pauly. Lexicon of antiquity. Vol. 3: Iuppiter - Nasidienus . Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, Sp. 449
^ Adolf Lippold: Laeti . In: Konrad Ziegler / Walter Sontheimer (eds.): Der Kleine Pauly. Lexicon of antiquity. Vol. 3: Iuppiter - Nasidienus . Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, Sp. 450
↑ Konrad Fuchs / Heribert Raab: Dictionary of History. Volume 2: Konz-Z . 3rd edition Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1977, p. 474; Walde & Hofmann (1965) Vol. 1. A - L. 4th ed.
^ New Pauly-Wissowa Laeti
↑ Spectrum of Science Special Archeology - History - Culture 1/2015, therein: Roland Steinacher: Social history, what is a barbarian ?, p. 23, Notitia Dignitatum Occ. XXXVIII.

[1] For the historical background to the settlement of the “laeti” see Ernst Wahle: Prehistory and early history in Central Europe . 9. Edit again Edition Gebhardt. Handbook of German History . Edited by Herbert Grundmann. Volume 1. Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, pp. 140–142

[2] In the case of EF Jung, however, the term “laeti” only refers to prisoners of war, cf. Ernst F. Jung: You conquered Rome. The role of the Teutons from the early days to Charlemagne . 2nd edition Munich: Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, 1980, p. 316

[3] Adolf Lippold: Laeti . In: Konrad Ziegler / Walther Sontheimer (eds.): Der Kleine Pauly. Lexicon of antiquity. Vol. 3: Iuppiter - Nasidienus . Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, Sp. 449

[4] Adolf Lippold: Laeti . In: Konrad Ziegler / Walter Sontheimer (eds.): Der Kleine Pauly. Lexicon of antiquity. Vol. 3: Iuppiter - Nasidienus . Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1979, Sp. 450

[5] Konrad Fuchs / Heribert Raab: Dictionary of History. Volume 2: Konz-Z . 3rd edition Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1977, p. 474; Walde & Hofmann (1965) Vol. 1. A - L. 4th ed.

[6] New Pauly-Wissowa Laeti

[7] Spectrum of Science Special Archeology - History - Culture 1/2015, therein: Roland Steinacher: Social history, what is a barbarian ?, p. 23, Notitia Dignitatum Occ. XXXVIII.