Alemanni

The Alamanni, or Allemanni, were a Germanic tribe, first mentioned by Dio Cassius, under the year 213. They apparently dwelt in the basin of the Main River, to the south of the Chatti.

According to Asinius Quadratus their name indicates that they were a conglomeration of various tribes. There can be little doubt, however, that the ancient Hermunduri formed the bulk of the nation. Other groups included the Juthungi, Bucinobantes, Lentienses, and perhaps the Armalausi. From the 4th century onwards we hear also of the Suebi, Suevi or Suabi. The Hermunduri had apparently belonged to the Suebi, but it is likely enough that reinforcements from new Suebic tribes had now moved westward. In later times the names Alamanni and Suebi seem to be synonymous.

The tribe was continually engaged in conflicts with the Roman Empire. Their most famous battle took place in Strasbourg, in 357 AD. They were defeated by Julian, later Emperor of Rome, and their king Chonodomarius was taken prisoner. Early in the 5th century the Alamanni appear to have crossed the Rhine river, conquered and then settled what is today Alsace and a large part of Switzerland. Their kingdom lasted until 405 AD, when they were conquered by Clovis I, from which time they formed part of the Frankish dominions. In a strange twist of fate, the word "Frankish" eventually gave its name to the Romance language French, while the Alamanni gave their name to the French word for "German" (Allemand).

The Alamannic and Swabian dialects are now spoken in German-speaking Switzerland, the southern parts of Baden and Alsace, Württemberg and a small portion of Bavaria.

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Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia

Some editing done March 2002