« 2026. # 3 (189)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 3 (189), 831—850

UDK94:355.48(=351.12­057.66:450­44=11):321.61:929.731]:327.82]”07/08″(09)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

THE WAR OF THE AVARS AGAINST CHARLEMAGNE, 788—803: THE ASSIMILATION OF NOMADS INTO THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE

LAHODYCH Volodymyr

• ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000­0002­0677­4408
• PhD, Assistant of the Department of Medieval
• and Byzantine History, Faculty of History,
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv,
• 1, University Str., 79000, Lviv, Ukraine, 
• Contacts: e­-mail: lagodicvolodimir@gmail.com

Abstract. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to rethink the mechanisms of interaction between sedentary state formations and nomadic communities in the Early Middle Ages, particularly in the context of Frankish expansion into the region of Central Europe during the late eighth to early ninth centuries.

The aim of the article is to identify the main factors that contributed to the Franks’ war against the Avar Khaganate, reconstruct the chronology of the key stages of the confrontation. Special attention is devoted to the context of religious strife among the Avar nobility between 795 and 803.

The methods of the research are based on the analysis of contemporary sources applying the historical­comparative method and the principles of source analysis.

The results show that the territorial expansion of the Kingdom of the Franks into Central Europe under Charlemagne’s rule led to the formation of an alliance between the Duchy of Bavaria and the Avar Khaganate. However, the main opponents of the Franks proved to be the nomads, whose subjugation lasted until the early ninth century. The reasons for the prolongation of the war included geographical distance, the lack of established logistics on the Franks’ side, simultaneous campaigns against the Saxons, and civilisational differences, which provoked fierce resistance to Christianisation among the nomads after their military defeat in 796. Ultimately, after the Franks conducted a series of campaigns into the Pannonia region and following the regulation of the procedure for converting the Avars to Christianity through the efforts of Alcuin and Paulinus, the nomads were finally subjugated.

Keywords: Frankish Kingdom, Avar Khaganate, Charlemagne, nomads, diplomacy, assimilation.

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