Zu dem zweinamigen merowingischen Prätendenten Ballomeris–Gundovald

The focus is on the name(s) of the Merovingian pretender Ballomeris–Gundovald (†585). Notwithstanding the prejudice of many historians Ballomeris is not an invective but a given name. The component -meris was characteristically for traditional names of princely Francs (4th to 6th century), the component gunthi- appears more ‘modern’. (Furthermore the stems balþa > ballo ‘brave’ and vald ‘to rule’ were often confused.) So the change of name reflects the changing role from illegitimate son of a king to a claimant for dynastical participation and at least for kingship. Unfortunately the perspective of the prejudice mentioned above hampered for a long time the consideration of Ballomeris as a name (not as a word) and blocked the use of onomastics in this case

Zu dem zweinamigen merowingischen Prätendenten Ballomeris–Gundovald

The focus is on the name(s) of the Merovingian pretender Ballomeris–Gundovald (†585). Notwithstanding the prejudice of many historians Ballomeris is not an invective but a given name. The component -meris was characteristically for traditional names of princely Francs (4th to 6th century), the component gunthi- appears more ‘modern’. (Furthermore the stems balþa > ballo ‘brave’ and vald ‘to rule’ were often confused.) So the change of name reflects the changing role from illegitimate son of a king to a claimant for dynastical participation and at least for kingship. Unfortunately the perspective of the prejudice mentioned above hampered for a long time the consideration of Ballomeris as a name (not as a word) and blocked the use of onomastics in this case

Zu dem zweinamigen merowingischen Prätendenten Ballomeris–Gundovald

The focus is on the name(s) of the Merovingian pretender Ballomeris–Gundovald (†585). Notwithstanding the prejudice of many historians Ballomeris is not an invective but a given name. The component -meris was characteristically for traditional names of princely Francs (4th to 6th century), the component gunthi- appears more ‘modern’. (Furthermore the stems balþa > ballo ‘brave’ and vald ‘to rule’ were often confused.) So the change of name reflects the changing role from illegitimate son of a king to a claimant for dynastical participation and at least for kingship. Unfortunately the perspective of the prejudice mentioned above hampered for a long time the consideration of Ballomeris as a name (not as a word) and blocked the use of onomastics in this case

Roger Fayet: Die Logik des Museums. Beiträge zur Muselogie

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100 Jahre Museum Werdau

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Glenn Arthur Ricci: Böser Wilder, friedlicher Wilder. Wie Museen das Bild anderer Kulturen prägen

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