629–641: The So-called Chronicle of Fredegar Explains the Intrusion of the "Saracens" into the Eastern Roman Empire

Abstract

The so-called Chronicle of Fredegar reports on the prophecy of the Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius and the ensuing invasion of the Muslim groups called “Saracens” into the Eastern Roman Empire. It forms the earliest written tradition about the beginning of the Arabic-Islamic expansion in the seventh century. Seen together with later testimonies from other parts of the Mediterranean, this account gives witness to the transmediterranean diffusion of particular narrative elements from the seventh century onwards. By integrating his narrative about the Eastern Roman emperor into a history of the Frankish realm, the chronicler establishes a connection between the two realms in general and their rulers in particular.