Gibuld
Encyclopedia
Gibuld was a king of the Alamanni
. He is the last known king before the defeat of the Alamanni at the battle of Tolbiac
in 496
.
Gibuld is known from two hagiographic sources, the contemporary (470s) Vita Severini by Eugippus,, where his name is latinized as Gibuldus, and the later Vita Lupi
where it is rendered Gebavultus.
The independence of the two accounts has been debated in scholarship. It is clear that the Vita Lupi preserves the older form of the name (which is interpreted as it were from Common Germanic * "gift-splendour"), which would mean that if the passage in the Vita Lupi depends on the Vita Severini, it would have to be based on an early version of that text, now lost.
Another suggestion was that Gibuldus and Gebavultus may in fact have been two princes from the same noble family, but not necessarily the same individual. But the predominant opinion appears to be that the two accounts are independent, and that the recurrence of the name supports the thesis that the Alamanni, formerly divided among numerous petty tribal kingships, by the late 5th century had become united under a single king.
According to Eugippus, Gibuld used to harry Passau
, until he was asked by Saint Severinus of Noricum to free his Roman hostages. Gibuld was so impressed by the Christian abbot that he agreed to free seventy of his prisoners. The Vita Lupi tells a similar story about with Lupus in the role of Severinus. If the two accounts are considered independent, this would suggest that the hostages episode reflects a historical event, although it remains open whether it took place at Passau, Troyes
, or yet elsewhere. In either case, Gibuld's floruit would have been close to AD 470.
Alemannia in the mid 5th century was situated to the east to two Arian
kingdoms in Gaul
, that of the Burgundians
and that of the Visigoths
. Some scholars (Schubert 1909) have speculated that due to Visigothic influence Gibuld may also have adopted the Arian confession, while it is clear that the greater part of the Alamannic population remained pagan
well into the 6th century.
Alamanni
The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Rhine river . One of the earliest references to them is the cognomen Alamannicus assumed by Roman Emperor Caracalla, who ruled the Roman Empire from 211 to 217 and claimed thereby to be...
. He is the last known king before the defeat of the Alamanni at the battle of Tolbiac
Battle of Tolbiac
The Battle of Tolbiac was fought between the Franks under Clovis I and the Alamanni, traditionally set in 496. The site of "Tolbiac", or "Tulpiacum" is usually given as Zülpich, North Rhine-Westphalia, about 60km east of the present German-Belgian frontier, which is not implausible...
in 496
496
Year 496 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paulus without colleague...
.
Gibuld is known from two hagiographic sources, the contemporary (470s) Vita Severini by Eugippus,, where his name is latinized as Gibuldus, and the later Vita Lupi
Lupus of Troyes
Saint Lupus was an early bishop of Troyes. Born at Toul, he was brother-in-law to Hilary of Arles, as he had married one of Hilary's sisters, Pimeniola. Lupus worked as a lawyer. However, after being married for six years, he and his wife parted by mutual agreement.Lupus renounced all of his...
where it is rendered Gebavultus.
The independence of the two accounts has been debated in scholarship. It is clear that the Vita Lupi preserves the older form of the name (which is interpreted as it were from Common Germanic * "gift-splendour"), which would mean that if the passage in the Vita Lupi depends on the Vita Severini, it would have to be based on an early version of that text, now lost.
Another suggestion was that Gibuldus and Gebavultus may in fact have been two princes from the same noble family, but not necessarily the same individual. But the predominant opinion appears to be that the two accounts are independent, and that the recurrence of the name supports the thesis that the Alamanni, formerly divided among numerous petty tribal kingships, by the late 5th century had become united under a single king.
According to Eugippus, Gibuld used to harry Passau
Passau
Passau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt or "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north....
, until he was asked by Saint Severinus of Noricum to free his Roman hostages. Gibuld was so impressed by the Christian abbot that he agreed to free seventy of his prisoners. The Vita Lupi tells a similar story about with Lupus in the role of Severinus. If the two accounts are considered independent, this would suggest that the hostages episode reflects a historical event, although it remains open whether it took place at Passau, Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
, or yet elsewhere. In either case, Gibuld's floruit would have been close to AD 470.
Alemannia in the mid 5th century was situated to the east to two Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
kingdoms in Gaul
Roman Gaul
Roman Gaul consisted of an area of provincial rule in the Roman Empire, in modern day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Roman control of the area lasted for less than 500 years....
, that of the Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
and that of the Visigoths
Visigothic Kingdom
The Visigothic Kingdom was a kingdom which occupied southwestern France and the Iberian Peninsula from the 5th to 8th century AD. One of the Germanic successor states to the Western Roman Empire, it was originally created by the settlement of the Visigoths under King Wallia in the province of...
. Some scholars (Schubert 1909) have speculated that due to Visigothic influence Gibuld may also have adopted the Arian confession, while it is clear that the greater part of the Alamannic population remained pagan
Germanic paganism
Germanic paganism refers to the theology and religious practices of the Germanic peoples of north-western Europe from the Iron Age until their Christianization during the Medieval period...
well into the 6th century.