Loreyn, Lothringen
Lorraine is a historical region located in northeastern France.
According to Wace, Lorraine was part of Arthur’s empire.
During the Roman War (in the Alliterative Morte Arthure and Malory), Arthur’s forces marched through Lorraine on their way to Rome. The fought the army of the Duke of Lorraine, who had rejected Arthur’s sovereignty. Gawain and Sir Florence, leading only a few hundred warriors, defeated the duke’s army of thousands at the battle of Metz. Arthur imprisoned the duke in Dover and appointed Priamus of Tuscany to rule the land.
Lorraine | 0 to 800 AD
Roman Lorraine | 0 – 5th centuries AD
Lorraine was part of the Roman province of Gallia Belgica during the Roman Empire. The Romans established towns, roads, and fortifications in the region. Roman settlements, such as Metz (Divodurum Mediomatricorum), Toul (Tullum Leucorum), and Verdun (Verodunum), became important centers in the area. Roman influence in Lorraine waned in the fifth century as the Western Roman Empire faced challenges and eventual collapse.
Migration Period | 5th – 6th centuries AD
The fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century led to the migration of various Germanic and Frankish tribes across Europe. Lorraine, situated in the border region between the Roman and Frankish territories, saw the influence and presence of these migrating tribes. The Franks, led by figures like Clovis I, gradually established control over the region and converted to Christianity.
Merovingian and Carolingian Periods | 6th – 8th centuries AD
Lorraine was part of the Frankish Kingdom, and the region’s administration was organized into counties. It was during this time that the powerful House of Lorraine emerged as a prominent noble family in the region. In the late eighth century, the Carolingian Dynasty, with Charlemagne as a notable figure, expanded the Frankish Empire, which included Lorraine.
Viking Invasions | 8th – 9th centuries AD
Lorraine, like other regions of Europe, faced Viking raids and invasions in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. The Vikings targeted coastal areas and navigable rivers, including the Moselle and Meuse rivers in Lorraine.
Carolingian Empire and Division | 9th century AD
In the ninth century, the Carolingian Empire faced challenges and eventually divided into smaller territories, including the establishment of the Kingdom of Lorraine. Lorraine became a separate kingdom under the rule of Lothair I, a grandson of Charlemagne. The division of the Carolingian Empire set the stage for later developments in the region.
See also
Lohengrin | The Legend of King Arthur
Sources
Roman de Brut | Wace, c. 1155
Alliterative Morte Arthure | c. 1400
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470