Boniface, Duke of Alsace
Encyclopedia
Boniface or Bonifacius was the second Duke of Alsace, in the mid 7th century. He is an obscure figure and his background is unknown, but charter evidence and onomastics
make him a relative of the families of Gundoin and Wulfoald
, a powerful extended kin group in Austrasia
. He succeeded Gundoin as duke in Alsace and was himself succeeded by Adalrich
, founder of the Etichonids
.
Boniface had trouble keeping the people of the Sornegau from revolting. Boniface founded the a hunting lodge on the site of the future village of Wihr-au-Val
around 660. Until the 10th century it was known as Bonifacii Villare. He "was involved" in the foundation of Gregoriental monastery around 662 and he was the first recorded donor to the abbey of Weissenburg
in 661. This last donation was conditional: the gift passed to the monstery only upon the death of the granter, though such a practice had died out by the 780s. It does not indicate that Boniface died in 661.
Onomastics
Onomastics or onomatology is the study of proper names of all kinds and the origins of names. The words are from the Greek: "ὀνομαστικός" , "of or belonging to naming" and "ὀνοματολογία" , from "ὄνομα" "name". Toponymy or toponomastics, the study of place names, is one of the principal branches of...
make him a relative of the families of Gundoin and Wulfoald
Wulfoald
Wulfoald was the mayor of the palace of Austrasia from 656 or 661, depending on when Grimoald I was removed from that office , to his death and mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 to 675.He was the regent of Austrasia during the minority of Childeric II until 670...
, a powerful extended kin group in Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
. He succeeded Gundoin as duke in Alsace and was himself succeeded by Adalrich
Adalrich, Duke of Alsace
Adalrich , also known as Eticho, was the Duke of Alsace, the founder of the family of the Etichonids, and an important and influential figure in the power politic of late seventh-century Austrasia....
, founder of the Etichonids
Etichonids
The Etichonids were an important noble family, probably of Frankish , Burgundian or Visigothic origin, who rose to dominate the region of Alsace in the Early Middle Ages from the seventh to the tenth centuries....
.
Boniface had trouble keeping the people of the Sornegau from revolting. Boniface founded the a hunting lodge on the site of the future village of Wihr-au-Val
Wihr-au-Val
Wihr-au-Val is a communes in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
around 660. Until the 10th century it was known as Bonifacii Villare. He "was involved" in the foundation of Gregoriental monastery around 662 and he was the first recorded donor to the abbey of Weissenburg
Weissenburg
The German names Weissenburg and Weißenburg can refer to:* Weißenburg in Bayern in Germany* Alba Iulia in Romania* Wissembourg in France...
in 661. This last donation was conditional: the gift passed to the monstery only upon the death of the granter, though such a practice had died out by the 780s. It does not indicate that Boniface died in 661.
Sources
- Hummer, Hans J. Politics and Power in Early Medieval Europe: Alsace and the Frankish Realm 600 – 1000. Cambridge University Press: 2005.