Extension of Latin Relationship Terms in Medieval France

Book excerpt: The problem of extension in Latin relationship terminology is considered from these three directions: (I) the scope of systematic extension is illustrated with available German examples; (II) French examples provide a test case indicating the use of systematic extension in the ninth century; (III) a twelfth-century application demonstrates the value of the systematic principle. The example presented here is that of King Robert II’s filius Amaury I of Montfort as described in the Historia Francorum continuation by Aimoin. A wide array of material confirms the appropriate reading to the effect that Amaury was the king’s son-in-law. Many other inferable royal relatives are presented drawing especially on the resource of Greco-Roman onomastics.