Gebhardi - Reges Francorum Merovingici - 1736

Medieval era without legends: the Merovingians in the scientific historiography of the Enlightenment
This work by Johann Ludwig Levin Gebhardi, published in Lüneburg in 1736, is a historical-critical study dedicated to the Merovingian kings, based on a systematic analysis of documentary sources. The author explicitly states the aim of freeing the history of Frankish origins from mythical genealogies, legendary traditions, and erudite constructions lacking foundation, replacing them with a reconstruction based on chronicles, diplomas, patristic testimonies, and verified medieval sources. The volume fully aligns with German Enlightenment historiography, characterized by philological rigor, comparative method, and critical attention to manuscript and printed tradition.
Market value
In the European antiquarian market, Gebhardi's historical works, especially those in good condition and complete with genealogical tables, generally range from 200 to 500 euros. Well-preserved copies, with the original binding intact and fresh pages, can fetch higher valuations, while structural defects or missing tables significantly reduce their value.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Contemporary binding in full rigid morocco, showing signs of use and some missing parts. Some foxing and reddening. The printed volume consists of a title page, dedication, preface to the reader, continuous text, and folded genealogical tables. There is an engraved plate with genealogies of the Merovingian kings. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (2); 6nn; 172; 12nn; (2).

Full title and author
The Merovingian Kings of the Franks
Lüneburg, at the expense of Johann Georg Abt, 1736.
Joh. Lud. Lev. Gebhardi.

Context and Significance
The work represents a mature example of 18th-century critical historiography applied to the early Middle Ages. Gebhardi systematically analyzes the available sources to reconstruct the succession of Merovingian kings, discussing chronologies, kinship, dynastic conflicts, and relations with the Roman Empire and the Germanic kingdoms. The genealogical tables, carefully organized, serve not as decorative elements but as tools for historical synthesis and critical verification. The rejection of Trojan origins of the Franks and other legendary traditions places the work within the tradition of German historical Enlightenment, alongside the studies of Mabillon, Pagi, and Muratori.

Biography of the Author
Johann Ludwig Levin Gebhardi was born in 1699 and died in 1760. A German historian and jurist, he authored numerous studies dedicated to the constitutional, dynastic, and political history of the German territories. His work is distinguished by the rigorous use of sources and a critical approach that anticipates modern historical methodology.

Printing history and circulation
Printed in Lüneburg in 1736, the volume was intended for an educated audience of scholars, jurists, and officials. It is not a widely circulated book but a specialized work designed for consultation and study. The inclusion of complete folded plates is an essential element for the proper circulation of the work.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
WorldCat, Kings of the Merovingian Franks, Gebhardi, 1736
VD18 – Directory of prints published in the German-speaking area of the 18th century
J. Mabillon, Annals of the Order of St. Benedict
A. Muratori, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores
BnF, History of the Merovingians, critical sources