Criticism and Critique: Sidelights on the Konradiner

The Konradiner were the first non-Carolingian dynasty to succeed to the East Frankish throne, and at various points during the tenth century they held ducal office in Franconia, Lotharingia, Swabia and Alsace. The genealogical reconstruction of the Konradiner is widely disputed. While the reconstruction proposed in this book was first developed in 1990, the base of the inquiry has been broadened and new sources and materials are applied. These studies represent an intorduction to, and partial description of, the early medieval law of succession to public office. Inheritance of counties in the Hessian region is investigated in extensive detail. Further topics include the development of margravial offices in the West Frankish kingdom and Thuringia, and the passage of the imperial battle standard from the eighth to the twelfth century.