Arbogast

Arbogast is an early Germanic name which was associated with the tribe of the Salian Franks.^[1][2][3] As early as 240 AD Arbogast was the name of a clan within the tribe.

Origin

Schretzheim I, found in Bayrisch Schwaben, Germany, is a silver bulla (i.e. an amulet box), dated c. AD 600. The runic inscription reads as Arogisd(l), which is the probable origin of the name "Arbogast".^[4] It is kept in the Stadtund Hochstiftmuseum, Dillingen a.d. Donau, Germany. The rune on the lid reads "arogisd". According to Jantina Helena Looijenga in her book "Runes Around the North Sea and On the Continent AD 150-700", the proto-Germanic name was "ara" (eagle) plus "gisalaz" (companion, hostage). Thus Aragisalaz (eagle companion). Over time, the name became arogisd(l). The name may also be interpreted as Arogist, Arogast or Arogastiz. This Proto-Germanic name changed as the language evolved to the old Frankish language. Dutch is the closest contemporary language to Old Frankish. Today in Dutch and elsewhere, "gast" translates as guest. The "Arbogast" name also appeared on a silver disc brooch found in a grave at Kirchheim-Teck dating to the second half of the sixth century.^[4]

Contact with the Romans led to Old Frankish words becoming Latinized. The name Arogast or Arogastes first appears in The Salic Law, written 507–511 AD.^[2] The four Frankish authors of the Salic law were "Wisogast, Arogast, Sidogast and Widogast". The systematic version of The Salic Law refers to them as "Wisogastes, Arogastes, etc." This law is usually attributed to Clovis.

Notables

Notable Arbogasts include one of the four authors of the Salic Law, Arbogastes, a 4th-century Frankish general in Roman imperial service and a 5th-century Frankish-Roman comes in Trier. This "comes" or count was a descendant of the earlier Frankish Arbogast and may have been the Arbogast who was Bishop of Chartres. By this time, the count was lauded for his Roman qualities and ceased to be identified as a Frank. Arbogast von Franckenstein was a knight and the first defender to use the name "von Franckenstein" in 948 A.D.. St. Arbogast was an Irish missionary who came to Alsace in the 7th century, where his given name Arascach was adapted to the local name Arbogast. St. Arbogast was Bishop of Strasbourg and many churches were named in his honor. Louis Francois Antoine Arbogast (1759-1803)was a famous French mathematician.

• Arbogast (general), a Frankish general in the 4th-century. Roman Empire^[5] He died in 394 A.D. His uncle was Richomeres, a Frankish general also in the service of the Roman empire.
• Arbogast (Count of Trier), a 5th-century "comes and descendant of the earlier Frankish Arbogast.
• Saint Arbogast, a 7th-century Irish saint who served in Alsace. July 21 is his feast day.
• Louis Francois Antoine Arbogast, (1759 — 1803), French mathematician born in Muttenz, Alsace, France.
• Arbogast von Franckenstein (c. 948) Knight and sworn defender of the Franckenstein realm.

Fictional characters

• Detective Arbogast, the detective in the film Psycho
• Dr Larry Arbogast, Danny DeVito's character in the film Junior
• Chief of Department Dino Arbogast, John Ventimiglia's character in the television series Blue Bloods
• Hans Arbogast, chief character in the book, The Arbogast Case.^[6]
• Carl Arbogast, River Phoenix Character in the film Sneakers

References

1. Gregory of Tours (28 November 1974). The History of the Franks. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-190379-8.
2. Drew, Katharine Fischer (1 January 2011). The Laws of the Salian Franks. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 59,171,172. ISBN 0-8122-0050-0.
3. "Salian franks".
4. Looijenga, Tineke (1 January 2003). Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions. BRILL. pp. 255, 264. ISBN 90-04-12396-2.
5. Tours, Gregory of (1927). The History of the Franks. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. p. 492.
6. Hettche, Thomas (2001). The Arbogast Case. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.