Gregory of Tours And the Merovingian letter

Merovingian letter-writing is traditionally studied by calling on a dozen or so high prolife letter collections. This article turns to different source: Gregory of Tours’ Histories, the foremost work history-writing survive from sixth-century Gaul. By studying Gregory’s narrative descriptions letters this seeks shed new light three aspects epistolary culture that have proved difficult approach solely through evidence: first, typological variety used in Gaul, which extended far beyond literary compositions dominating collections; second, complex practices surrounding delivery, such as use messengers, oral performance and strategies secret communication; finally, repurposing after their initial moment includes recirculation old sources evidence persuasion, but also covers way himself came employ device.