The Last of the Merovingians, oil on canvas by Évariste Vital Luminais, late 19th century. The painting depicts a young Merovingian having his hair cut. Known as the "Long-Haired Kings", the Merovingians' long hair symbolized their right to rule, and any Merovingian whose hair was cut short was deemed unfit for kingship. A common way for a Merovingian to dispose of a rival was to have him forcibly tonsured and exiled to a monastery, which is what is happening in this painting.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Carcassonne.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Luminais, É. V. (2023, March 10). The Last of the Merovingians. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17170/the-last-of-the-merovingians/
Chicago Style
Luminais, Évariste Vital. "The Last of the Merovingians." World History Encyclopedia, March 10, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17170/the-last-of-the-merovingians/.
MLA Style
Luminais, Évariste Vital. "The Last of the Merovingians." World History Encyclopedia, 10 Mar 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17170/the-last-of-the-merovingians/.
