Byzantine-Frankish relations portrayed in the letters of Merovingian monarchs to Emperor Justinian I

The following article is the first part of a broader study dedicated to diplomatic relations between Merovingian monarchs and the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. The source texts consist of three preserved letters written by Frankish monarchs to emperor Justinian I (527–565). The first part of the article is a presentation of Byzantine envoys whose names appear in the correspondence. The author tries to disambiguate their position and identity as well as answer the question if the envoy’s status can in any way provide solid information about the relations between the two countries. The picture of the envoys emerging from the letters seems in line with canons of imperial diplomacy, even though the scarcity of sources allows only a hypothetical reconstruction of their position. Taking into consideration their status itself, one cannot affirm that they neglected the Frankish partner or that the Merovingian Empire was dependent on Byzantium