Duke of the Franks

The title Duke (and Prince) of the Franks (Latin: dux (et princeps) Francorum) has been used for three different offices, always with "duke" implying military command and "prince" implying something approaching sovereign or regalian rights. The term "Franks" may refer to an ethnic group or to the inhabitants of a territory called Francia.

The first office was that of the

kings of France, the last incumbent of which succeeded to the throne in 987. This title was sometimes rendered as Duke of France (dux Franciae). The third instance was that of the rulers in East Francia (now Germany) of the so-called "tribal" duchy of Franconia

.

Dux et princeps Francorum

Up until the time after

Carolingians, both in narrative and charter sources.^[1]

In 742, Pippin's grandson,

Merovingian king, Childeric III, had been appointed.^[9] The ducal/princely title used by the early Carolingians marked them off as peers of the duke–princes of Aquitaine, also nominally under the Merovingians, rather than as sovereigns over them.^[10]

Dux Franciae

A charter from the reign of King

Saint-Aignan d'Orléans that titles Robert the Strong dux Francorum is a 17th-century forgery.^[11]

Between 936 and 943, the title dux Francorum was revived at the request of

margraves of Neustria from 943.^[17] Walther Kienast suggested that the title served to connect Hugh with the previous duces Francorum, Pippin II and Charles Martel, and buttress his authority in Francia, from which he was frequently absent on visits to the royal court.^[18]

Hugh died in 956 and was succeeded by his son and heir, the child

royal demesne was enlarged by Hugh's accession, royal action became more geographically restricted to Francia.^[22]

Modern historians have proffered two interpretations of the 10th-century use of dux Francorum. Jan Dhondt and Walther Kienast argued that the title was a royal concession recognising the actual power acquired by the Robertians over the region known as Francia, that is, old Neustria. Thus the title was territorial in nature, reflective of Hugh's real power and a royal (legal) grant.[23] Ferdinand Lot argued that the title was viceregal and represented authority in theory over the entire realm and in fact power second only to that of the king.^[24]

Dux Francorum orientalium

The emergence of the

Otto I (936–73).^[25]

In 956,

Duke of Carinthia from 978 to 985, and after his retirement from Carinthian office was titled Wormatiensis dux Francorum ("Frankish duke of Worms"), the first titular dukedom in Germany. His son, Conrad, who succeeded him in Carinthia, was also titled "duke of Worms".^[27]

Conrad III of Germany, before his election as king, held the title "Duke of the East Franks" (dux Francorum orientalium).^[28]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Lewis 1976, p. 404 n. 149.
^ Wolfram 1971, p. 38.
^ Depreux 2012, p. 64.
^ Loyn 1953, p. 514 n. 6.
^ Lewis 1976, p. 404 n. 149. Technically, the chronicler refers to Ragamfred's "principality" or "princedom" (principatus)..
^ Wolfram 1971, p. 38: servi Dei et optimates mei ... qui in regno meo sunt ... dux et princeps Francorum.
^ Higgins 1933, p. 209: Sine patrocinio principis Francorum nec populam aecclesiae regere nec presbiteros vel clericos, monachos vel ancillas Dei defendere possum.
^ Boniface 1976, pp. 91–94, has a translation of Carloman's decree.
^ Wolfram 1971, p. 39.
^ Wolfram 1971, p. 40.
^ Bautier 1961, p. 143.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ganshof 1972, p. 15.
^ Dunbabin 2000, p. 47: est in omnibus regnis nostris secundus a nobis.
^ Ganshof 1972, p. 15: rex ei ducatum Franciae delegavit.
^ Dunbabin 2000, p. 47.
^ Wolfram 1971, p. 46.
^ Dunbabin 2000, pp. 66–68, charts the evolution of old Neustria into the duchy of Francia..
^ Dunbabin 2000, p. 68.
^ Ganshof 1972, p. 15: Hugonem rex ducem constituit, addito illi pago Pictavensi ad terram quam pater eius tenuerat. . ..
^ Fanning 1995, p. 1250.
^ Glenn 2001, pp. 1069–70.
^ Dunbabin 2000, pp. 137–40.
^ Ganshof 1972, pp. 15–16.
^ Ganshof 1972, pp. 16.
^ Jackman 1990, pp. 89–91.
^ Pixton 2001, pp. 1120–21.
^ Jackman 1990, p. 96.
^ Lyon 2012, p. 37.